Jodi, I love your pictures of the Panama Canal, I got to visit one set of locks when I was in Panama, but I didn't get a chance to traverse the canal or even see any of it but the one set of locks. On our voyage I was reading the book "The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914" by David McCullough which provides a details history of the building of the canal. I joked that the book provides a good view of what a herculean task building the canal was, because simply reading the book is nearly as herculean. I think that your image might be of the San Pedro locks (which has two lock doors and one lock chamber) rather than the Miraflores locks (which has three lock doors and two lock chambers). Here is an image of the inside of the Gatun Locks Control House, showing the original analog gauges and controls for operating the lock doors, with racks of computers in the background that now drive the original mechanisms.

She is gorgeous, isn't she? Belongs to a neighbor. She is kept indoors, but when she escapes it is our yard that is a favorite to visit.

lgmz_gaz, I'm glad my monarchs are at your place this year. This is the first year I have a lot of un-nibbled plants--usually I am transferring caterpillars from stripped sticks to foliage elsewhere in the yard. I finally gave up and cut the plants to the ground. ----------------- Funny about the snake sign photos. I just assume rattlesnakes are everywhere, and signs should just let me know where they are not. ;)

Lo-o-o-o-o-oo-o-o-ve those Budweiser Clydesdales! ! They were here for several days a few years ago, in conjunction with an air show, the Blue Angels. Rusty