My Mind's Eye

Sunday, April 27, 2025

Happy Birthday to my Hubby aka Dad of Angel Madi

Madi and I started her blogs in June of 2010...

Today I am sharing her very first happy birthday post to her Dad

April 27, 2011.

Happy Birthday to Dad...he is the one in the purple shirt

Every year the last weekend of April there is a live steam meet in Apex, NC by a local live steam railroad club. The trains run on 7 1/2" gauge track and are quite powerful for their size.

Luckily it coincides with Dad's birthday (4/27). Mom and Dad attended

this year's meet on April 24.

Many of the engines are made by their owner's as in the one shown below.
This gentleman traveled from Kentucky for the show. Most burn coal, some burn
oil and some propane.

The meet is held on the property of one of the local members. Below are a few pictures of his
property. We aren't sure how many acres he has but there are 2.1 miles of meandering track

throughout lovely woods and gardens

below is on of the 3 bridges the trains cross over.

The engineer on our ride around the property traveled from Michigan.

Below is the train we rode taking on water drawn from one of several ponds on the property.

Below is a picture of Dad shortly before he was given the privilege of playing engineer for a day.

This train is owned by one of his close friend from Virginia.

and finally a 17 second video of Dad driving a live steam engine for the first time after many, many years of attending this meet.

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Snicker Saturday

Spotted Monday, April 21 on my EMW in the neighborhood

Who knew dinosaurs liked Easter Peeps

Friday, April 25, 2025

Nature , Final Friday Feature and Feline Friday

Happy Birthday wishes Sunny today April 25th

one of our hosts for Nature Friday host LLB Gang

Mom Beth and the Girls made a beautiful new
Nature Friday Badge honoring the Memory of our friend Gail

YAM Aunty tomorrow April 26th

Click here to visit YAM

OUR HOSTESS FOR FINAL FRIDAY FEATURE IS

YAM AUNTY, HER BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW APRIL 26

🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎂🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

YAM AUNTY I SAVED THIS POST JUST FOR YOUR BDAY

Power lines as public art? Wait ‘til you see these sunflowers planned for Dix Park. By Anna Johnson November 8, 2023 8:00 AM Power poles over Dorothea Dix Park will be transformed into metal sunflowers Dix Park Conservancy Power line poles along Dorothea Dix Park will transform into large metal sunflowers, nearly 80 feet tall. The two power poles will become large-scale public art in a collaboration between the Dix Park Conservancy, Duke Energy and Raleigh-based artist Thomas Sayre. “This inspired project exemplifies both the creativity we aspire to foster at Dix Park

Thomas Sayre, the prominent Raleigh artist behind many of the city's most beloved public art installations, is bringing his work to Dorothea Dix Park.

Driving the news: Sayre, using private funding, will turn two power poles in the park into giant, steel sunflowers, the Dix Park Conservancy announced Wednesday.

The 73-ft. sunflowers** — an homage to the park's sunflower fields — are near the entrance to the under-construction Gipson Play Park.

These photos were taken from the car

Click here

to see a WRAL News video about the Metal Sunflowers. You will have to click on another link at the top of the page.

I don't think you can read the newspaper link below w/o being a subscriber.Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article281524403.html#storylink=cpy

In July Dix Park has a field of sunflowers that draws visitors from all over the State and beyond. They were the inspiration for the Sunflower Power Pole ART

click here

More Nature

**Below is a picture from July 2024

A sea of cheerful, golden sunflowers stretch out in a Raleigh field for a couple of weeks each summer. The Dorothea Dix Park Sunflowers are a spectacular sight to see and not to be missed - though you'll have to plan your visit just right since the golden beauties only bloom for two weeks.