Silver Linings 4 ME: nature

Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts

Friday, April 1, 2016

FIVE ON FRIDAY {4.1.16}

all photos taken 3.23.16 @ The Cincinnati Zoo

JPE & I flew back to visit some of the Elfers Family over Spring Break! On a day that was to reach the mid-70's**, we met Elizabeth & her three kids... Zachary, Charley & Annie. The two big guys, JPE & Greg are cousins.

First stop... the Reptile House. Although the kids were interested in what was inside, I learned this building was the oldest existing zoo building in America. It was built in 1875 & used to house the monkeys & apes. On the bottom right is a "pancake tortoise" which has a flat, flexible shell that allows it to squeeze into small crevices & hide from its predators.

{Sorry for the somewhat blurry pics - it was difficult to take pictures through the wire & glass enclosures}

The zoo staff had left Easter baskets filled with carrots, lettuces, & vegies. Peek-A-Boo! Can you see the chimp hiding in the bottom right hand pic? JPE measured his hands (& feet) against the model of the chimps. These chimps are B.I.G.!!

Simply beautiful, serene & peaceful! These lovely creatures didn't seem to care if we were taking pictures of them or not.

This picture of Charley says it ALL! Going to the ZOO is EXCITING!

If you think the Cincinnati Zoo was all critters & scary stuff, here is evidence you can see other stuff. I haven't been to a zoo in at least 25 years, so this was an exciting start to our vacation.

** The weather was actually overcast, chilly, perhaps mid-60's... but this fair-weather blogger was pleased-as-punch for the lack of humidity that usually arrives when I visit Cincinnati!!

posting with AMY for FIVE ON FRIDAY

Sunday, March 20, 2016

PRINTEMPS... SPRING... PRIMAVERA...

all pictures taken 3.20.16

HAPPY SPRING!!!

Do you think my neighbor will miss this??

ummm... love putting this bunny out!

has SPRING SPRUNG in your yard?

Sunday, February 21, 2016

WEEKEND WANDERINGS {CAMBRIA PINES}

Cambria Pines Lodge, Cambria, CA

I think I need to "pin" this so I can duplicate it
in my garden!

WOW! love this bedroom!

be careful!

let's go check out the POOL now!

still following along?

ummm... this is an awfully small pool house...

the pool was closed for the winter!

well, it's time to head back to the car...

hope you enjoyed this magical visit??

website for Cambria Pines Lodge

(pssst... this was sort of a silly way to be able to post some of my pictures)

posting w: SUNDAYS IN MY CITY & WEEKEND TRAVEL INSPIRATION.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

PLUI = REGEN = LLUVIA = RAIN

Sunday December 13, 2015

chimes a' singing

a crossword puzzle word for MOM!

PLUVIOPHILE describes ME!

Monday, November 2, 2015

GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V44

:: GOOD ::

Oh yeah!

five of us shared a piece of "Peanut Butter Madness"

after dinner at Bonnie Blue Bakery & Market, Winchester, VA.

this was beyond GOOD... I'm sure Steph, Mazen, JPE & Mom will salivate remembering the creamy-ness of this treat!

:: RANDOM ::

totally RANDOM!

A bit of fluffy whiteness standing T.A.L.L. &
holding S.T.R.O.N.G. in the COLOR competition on Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

:: FUN ::

Mazen to Steph: "Is this too big for our dining room table?"

Sebastian, "guide-dog extraordinaire" has no opinion!

The five of us took a FUN drive out to

Marker-Miller Orchards & Farm, outside Winchester, VA.

In addition to pumpkins, we purchased apples,

jams, & apple cider donuts.

posting with Tamar @ Random-osity

Monday, October 12, 2015

GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V41

You've probably noticed (or maybe you haven't) that I had taken

a BREAK from blogging. It's NOT terribly unusual for bloggers to step away from posting... it can be exhausting, plus it takes TIME to create posts. When two of my favorite Swedish bloggers, Benita from Chez Larsson, & TinaJo who posted At Home, disappeared, I was disappointed initially... only to learn they had continued to post on Instagram. Gardening, her rascals (two sons) and a new dog are keeping TinaJo busy, but occasional posts can be seen @tinajo73. And Benita's beautiful, simple living style can be found @BenitaLarsson.

During my blog break, JPE & I traveled, visited family and spruced-up our patio. As you may have read, I've retired from a career in education. Since May 20th (my official retirement date), I've created a bridal bouquet (seen HERE) for my youngest daughter's wedding, read 11 books, purchased enough craft supplies to start a business (kidding, sort of), and slept (or puttered around, A LOT).

Since February, I've visited blogs, but have not felt like writing.

A couple of days ago, I realized I've missed blogging!!!!

So, here I am... hopefully posting on a regular basis, and journaling this new chapter of my life, RETIREMENT.

The best way to get back into blogging is to participate in a photo challenge.

Tamar @ Randomosity continues to host her Monday challenge, GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. So, I'm BACK!!!

We're (JPE, my mom & I) headed to Washington DC, to visit SLE & MB. Hoping to take a short trip to some of the Civil War sites and see the FALL COLORS.

Due to the California drought, we've replaced most of our flowers with beautiful succulents... don't you LOVE the fuzz growing on this vibrant green plant.

I mentioned my obsession with craft supplies. Well, I've also added several new books to my library... Valerie McKeehan authored The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering. It's amazing how lettering skills return with a bit of practice...

So, come back again, SOON!