Saturday, September 26, 2009

Photo Hunters - Twisted



Photo Hunters - Twisted





The Loretto Staircase
Loretto Chapel
Santa Fe, NM



The Loretto Chapel. Santa Fe, NM. When was completed in 1878, there was no way to access the choir loft twenty-two feet above. Not uncommon of chapels of the time, when priests used ladders to climb into the lofts. But since Loretto was run by nuns, a staircase was needed. The chapel is too small for a conventional staircase. The sister prayed for an answer. Legend has it that a mysterious carpenter appeared and with only a hammer, saw, T-square and buckets of hot water for shaping the woord created the miraculous structure. Months later, the staircase was completed and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. The stairway confounds architects, engineers and master craftsmen. It makes over two complete 360-degree turns, stands 20’ tall and has no center support. It rests solely on its base and against the choir loft. The risers of the 33 steps are all of the same height. Made of an apparently extinct wood species, it was constructed with only square wooden pegs without glue or nails. When finished, the staircase had no handrails. The banister and balusters were added ten years later. It really is an amazing structure.




Saturday, September 19, 2009

Photo Hunters - Upside Down



The theme for the week was "upside down." Kids have a way of really turning your world upside down.

Immediately, these two picture came to mind.

Photo Hunters - Upside Down







has more "upside down" at her blog and drop by Criz's place for a bunch "upside down."

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Photo Hunters - Orange



Haven't played along with the in a while and frankly I've missed it. This summer really derailed life in many ways. I dislocated my knee back in June. Tore my ACL and meniscus and damaged the cartilage on my femur where my bones crunched together. The summer itself was consumed with the repair and a long recovery, with very little energy to do anything else, esp. blog. And I still have a ways to go yet.

But the end of August symbolizes the beginning of fall (even though officially it will be several more weeks before it's arrival). And I'm happily saying "good-bye" to summer with a renewed hope that I can come back to blogging with new vigor. Time will tell I suppose.

So I'm jumping (figuratively, of course) back into The Hunt and have found a photo I took of something "orange."

Photo Hunters - Orange




I saw this photo that I took last spring and it made me feel happy. I could use a little more happy lately so it seemed like a really good choice.


You'll find more "orange" things at the blog of - the creator of The Photo Hunt. (for which I'm grateful) And also, if you'd like to find a place with easy links to many Photo Hunters' blogs, you can always drop by my bloggy and photographic friend, Napaboaniya. Her photo choice for orange is terrific!