From the Archives - Old and New

Venice, Italy   © Doug Hickok
(Old World)

Cincinnati, Ohio   © Doug Hickok
(New World)

I like the contrast between the historical ages, the renaissance and the modern architectural styles and the contrast in materials, but I especially like the difference in line/shape patterns, warm/cold colors and the light/dark key.  Also, the best espresso I ever tasted was in the Caffe del Doge in Venice. Not so much so in Ohio.

Road Trip IV - The Cabin

When Becky and I make our quick retreats to the mountains in North Carolina, we're very fortunate to stay at our friend's cabin just outside of Burnsville. Here are a few shots from in and around Dennis and Louanne's place...

All photos  © Doug Hickok

Great View of the Black Mountains from their back porch.
(In the vein of Hokusai, the Japanese Ukiyo-e artist and his Thirty-Six Views of Mt Fuji)

Road Trip III - Around Burnsville, NC

Becky and I drove some of our favorite routes on our most recent visit to the mountains. The area around Burnsville offers endless possibilities for exploration...

An old Apple Orchard along the Blue Ridge Parkway

A venerable ole apple tree of undetermined age

Three amigos with a splendid view

Fence line near Crabtree Falls area

Shadow of a winter Dogwood tree

Nostalgic spot in Pensacola, along hwy 197

Along the high ridges of Pisgah National Forest, Hwy 197

Glimpse of an era gone by

It was still autumn in some isolated spots in the mountains
All photos  © Doug Hickok

Road Trip II - Colorful Burnsville, NC

Becky and I make a visit to the mountains a few times a year, staying just outside Burnsville. This little gem of a town is packed with interesting visuals, a really fun place to visit...

All photos  © Doug Hickok

Road Trip I - A Twist on Autumn Colors, Burnsville, NC

On our recent visit to Burnsville, Becky and I saw some remains of autumn color in the mountains of North Carolina. I experimented with long shutter speeds and moving the camera during exposure, and eureka! Some neat abstracts of color...

Panning with a twist

Twisting and spinning

Zooming


All photos  © Doug Hickok

Happy Times

My beautiful dad.

The beach houses surrounding the house we stayed in. The agapanthus grows wild in front of these houses. I would love to see them flowering.

The gardens in this small sleepy beach side town are to-die-for.



Table set for Dad's Birthday lunch.






I spotted this cute beach shack when I was out picking flowers and loved it. In New Zealand I've noticed they paint many of their houses black and white which I love.



I had a bath in this huge clawfoot bath every day we were there. I love the little vintage butterfly prints on the wall.




When we eventually renovate the kitchen in our new house I definitely want to have a cabinet built just like this one which was in the kitchen at the beach house. It was so perfect for all the plates, platters, cups etc.

The beach in front of the house.

We've just returned home from a week in New Zealand where we celebrated my father's 60th Birthday. After spending a few days in Auckland we caught a plane down to Napier and drove down to a beautiful beach house my parent's have been frequenting over the past 12 months in a sleepy beach side town in Hawkes Bay. We spent 3 days here with my parents, brothers, cousins, aunty & uncle and our grandmother. It was the most wonderful holiday with lots of laughs, lots of tears and lots of reminiscing. Mum cooked an amazing lunch for Dad on his birthday. I went down the street and picked some gorgeous roadside flowers which I arranged for the table. It was the most amazing week away from work and the craziness of life. Happy 60th Birthday Dad. You are one in a million and we all love you so much.

If anyone is interested in staying at this beautiful house click HERE for details.

The Hart

The Hart Lodge in Tauranga Bay of Plenty New Zealand looks like it would be a beautiful place to visit and if you were feeling a little extravagant you could fly in on your own helicopter and land at the property's helipad. If only I could flit off over there for a few days. That would be nice!!