Month: October 2012

Aboard the Amtrak Carolinian

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Recently I took Amtrak Carolinian between Washington, DC and Raleigh, NC. I love traveling by train. It is relaxing and is a wonderful way to see the country. The Carolinian passes over several gorgeous bodies of water as well as through some lovely countryside. Below are some photos of my journey. They are in order from south to north.

The Roanoke River near Weldon, NC.

Cotton fields near Emporia, VA

The James River in Richmond, VA

The Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg, VA

The Potomac River near Quantico, VA

The Occoquan River in Woodbridge, VA

The Potomac River between Arlington, VA and Washington, DC

A Curtain Rod from Door Knobs and a Wooden Dowel

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Here are my starting materials: two antique milk glass door knobs, a wooden dowel, two wall hooks, and silver paint. Not pictured are store bought curtain clip rings, Liquid Nails, and the curtain, which is actually a tablecloth.

I painted the dowel. Then I put the curtain rings on the dowel. I used Liquid Nails to glue the dowel into the two antique milkglass doorknobs, which conveniently I bought without the rods that attach them to the door mechanism. The only problem with the way I created this curtain rod is that the curtain rings are now permanently on the rod, unless I want to break the dowel to remove them.

After everything had dried and cured, I attached the rod to the wall using the wall hooks which simply screw into the drywall and studs. [Wooden dowels come in multiple diameters, so I picked the diameter that best fit into the door knobs. Similarly, I bought wall hooks that best fit snugly around the dowel.]

For the curtain, I used a hand painted piece of fabric that my sister gave me, which I think is from Bali. I am pretty sure it is supposed to be a tablecloth, but it fit my window perfectly, and it was too pretty to never have on display. Below is the finished window treatment that is pretty and VERY unique.

My Photographic Obsession with Philadelphia’s Comcast Center

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I’m visiting Philadelphia for the week. Unfortunately it’s for work, and I have very little time to sightsee. I definitely plan to return someday as a tourist. In the meantime, I have developed a bit of an obsession with the Comcast Center here. It’s a beautiful, tall skyscraper seen below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s top part has a unique cutout on the front, and the side has different glass on top which helps to call attention to the sloping sides.

Its lower section has an interesting set of “boxes” in front of it.

Mostly, I think part of it’s beauty is its simplicity which allows it to reflect its surroundings in beautiful ways. It becomes a near perfect mirror in the correct light. It also blends into the sky in gorgeous ways.

Then it reflects the clouds and sunset.

And possibly best of all, is the way it reflects nearby buildings, including Three Logan Square, photographed below.

Also here it reflects One Liberty Square. It kind of looks like One Liberty Square is at the end of this street, but it’s the reflection.

So, yes, I’m a bit obsessed, photographically speaking, with this building. I probably would have taken more photographs if I had not had to be in meetings all week.