Back to Kingsport Tenn

Rest area on I-75
All in Bloom

Took a break from visiting my daughter to continue working on my health, but I traveled back last week during the heat wave.  I made it back to Kingsport in record time.  Last time even though I thought I left at the right time to miss Atlanta traffic it still took me 2 1/2 hours to get from Locust Grove through Atlanta to Marietta.  This time it took 45 minutes.  It always amazes me at the time difference that can occur while driving in the city. Sometimes for no apparent reason your time can double or triple.  How do those who commute everyday figure this out?

Blessed shade on a hot day

The other thing that continues to surprise me is the different personalities of the rest areas.  Each has it's own beauty.  The difference between rest areas between states is even more remarkable.  Georgia's tend to have lots of wide open spaces with minimal landscaping mostly around the main building and they are not staffed except at the main You have entered Georgia Rest Area.

Georgia rest area picnic site

Tennessee has smaller rest areas with more landscaping spread across the entire area.  They also have the bonus of being having an attendant on site.

Beauty at the rest stop
Art edit

At one of the Georgia rest areas I saw some evergreens that where in some places dead, dying, and other places growing and thriving.  I loved the textures and color combinations so I snapped a shot.

Life goes on

I have been looking at a lot of abstract photos and art lately so since I really liked the colors and textures I decided to try my hand at turning this photo into an abstract art piece.

  I edited it in Photoscape (available for free on CNET) using the swirl filter then I added a lens flare.  I added three lens flares in three different colors and turned down the opacity on the flares.

I then transferred it to Gimp and layered the edited version with the original. (Gimp is alsoavailable for free on CNET). This was my first attempt at using layers. I then cropped it to emphasize the center flare and came up with this:

What do you think?
Enjoy
☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Greetings from Kingsport TN

View of the mountains from my daughters apt complex

I have recently been to see my daughter in Tennessee.  As my health increases my life expands and I am able to do more and more.  A couple of months ago a trip to Atlanta required someone else to drive me there.  About 3 weeks ago I drove  by myself from Griffin GA to Kingsport Tenn a little over 6 hours of straight driving.  I did take breaks and it took me about 8 hours but I did it.  HOORAY, HOORAY for me.

Pretty park and landscaping at Apt complex

While Laura and the boys were busy elsewhere I was able to take a walk and photograph some of the beauty of the area in which she lives.

As the subtitle to my blog says; See the Beauty; A Survivors Photo-Art Journal I still find much beauty in my everyday surroundings and continue to enjoy sharing it with you.

Another Mountain view

The only downfall to my returning health is as I am more and more active my time spent on the computer is less and less.  Hopefully I can someday soon manage both as I truly miss my online friends.

Hopefully that day will be soon.

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺