My Meme Mania

SSS – Lansing Riverwalk and Farmer’s Market

2011-06-18T23:05:00.001-04:00

We decided to combine a walk along the river with a trip to the farmer’s market. We didn’t realize it was about 95 degrees outside until we got there. So our walk was pretty short. This sculpture was the first thing we encountered just a few yards down river from the market. There were a few scuff marks where some kids had tried to walk up slope. The shadow doesn’t really show the cool shape.

This bench along the Riverwalk has a much better shadow. Just a little way farther along we found a bench in full shade. There is an enclosed pedestrian walkway about two stories up that crosses the river. We sat there for awhile enjoying the breeze and the shade as we watched people walk, bike, and skateboard by.

I took this picture from where we sat. The closest bridge is a street (Shiawassee), the second a railroad bridge, and the third (a tiny strip of blue below the RR bridge that you can see if you enlarge the picture) is another street (Saginaw).

The flowers in the foreground are planters on the posts of the iron fence between the Riverwalk and the river. I’m disappointed that when I panned just a bit to the right to see more of the market and its patio that I cut the ‘ribbon’ sculpture from the picture. It’s right there at the left side. Trust me.

You can find more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

V is for … Vineyard

2011-06-15T01:10:00.000-04:00

I don’t drink wine because of my allergies. But it’s certainly big business in the Traverse City, Michigan, area. Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay have the perfect influence on the weather to make this area a great place to grow many kinds of fruit.

This is a shot of one of the vineyards on Old Mission Point which extends up into the middle of Grand Traverse Bay.

We were very careful not to touch any of the fruit, but I got some very good close-up pictures of the grapes. Here’s one of my favorites. Just look at all those grapes! When I see them, I think of juice and jelly. But these big juicy beauties are headed for the wine barrels.

You can find more things that begin with V at ABC Wednesday.

SSS … Mini Golf

2011-06-09T22:12:00.000-04:00

One of the things we love to do on vacation in Traverse City is pay mini golf at Pirate’s Cove. They have other great attractions, too, like bumper boats, water sides, go carts, even a zip line! When we went last week, only the mini golf was operating.

This is MWH on the practice green. It was a beautiful, sunny day. And windy! You can see the hangman’s noose standing out from the post in the foreground. It was windy enough that it affected a few of our putts.

There are sign posts at each tee telling the story of several pirates. Here’s the sign on the way out.

One more thing I want to show you. This is one of the lines between parking spaces. All are alternating cutlasses and skull and crossbones. If you ever make it to Traverse City, MI, be sure to have some fun at Pirate’s Cove.

You can find more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

U is for … Under

2011-06-07T23:00:00.000-04:00

Like most things at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this boardwalk is most under the sand. In the parking lot we saw equipment to clear off the walkway. I don’t know how often they actually clear it, but I’ve never been there when the walk wasn’t mostly under the sand.

You can find more things that start with U at ABC Wednesday.

SSS - Let’s Fish From the Boat!

2011-06-03T01:10:00.000-04:00

My husband helps our daughter launch the rowboat so she can take our grandchildren fishing.

You can find more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

T is for … Tree

2011-05-31T22:34:00.001-04:00

This basswood tree lives near the boundary between the Sleeping Bear Dunes and the forest that borders the dunes. The dunes are living things in that they are always moving and trying to take over more space. They extend about a mile inland from Lake Michigan. This tree has been hanging on against the wind as it continually tries to reshape the dunes for many years. So far the tree is winning. What a root system!

You can find more things that begin with T at ABC Wednesday.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-05-28T23:21:00.000-04:00

This is where we are spending the week! This is the guest cottage at my husband’s parents’ home on a small lake near Traverse City, Michigan. You can see the corner of the attached garage of the main house up the hill and to the right. The weather is supposed to be beautiful and warm all week. I hope MWH is able to relax and get recharged before going back to work. We love it here!

You can find more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

S is for … Sand

2011-05-24T03:48:00.001-04:00

This beautiful, clean sand is on the shore of Lake Michigan near the town of Frankfort. We had canoed down a pleasant river to this beach. If you look across the water you can see a swath of sand. That sand is the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. That particular dune is 450 feet tall with a lookout at the top. You can drive to the lookout. It’s always very windy and I plan to wear goggles the next time I go there.

Near the shore of Glen Lake there is a dune climbing area that is part of the National Lakeshore. This is the most fun place to visit the dunes. When you finally get to the top of the first dune, there are more and more to climb. And running down the dune is great fun as long as you lean back to prevent going head over heels.

The next time you’re in Northern Lower Michigan in the summer I’d really recommend visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes

You can find more things that begin with S at ABC Wednesday.

SSS – Coral Cactus

2011-05-21T14:33:00.001-04:00

This unusual coral cactus is owned by my daughter. I took these pictures a few years ago. The cactus has continued to grow and get more curly since then.

You can find more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

R is for … RED!

2011-05-17T23:08:00.000-04:00

RED is my favorite color. I almost always include RED in my quilts.

You can see that there is RED in most of these quilted items. The jacket has a beautiful dark RED that’s almost burgundy. A couple of them that have no visible RED have RED thread.

You can see what else starts with R at ABC Wednesday.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-05-13T14:49:00.001-04:00

Have you ever seen a brown shadow? I was so startled when I reclined my chair and looked up at the ceiling. The shadow looked like it had been painted on the ceiling with brown paint. It was creepy!

Since I always try to figure out “why”, I did just that. Just a few months ago we replaced all the carpet with dark walnut laminate flooring. Across the room the floor lamp was turned on. When I turned it off the shadow reverted to the dark gray you expect a shadow to be. So the conclusion: The reflection of the light from floor to ceiling took the brown color with it. Cool, huh?

You can find more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

Q is for … Quail

2011-05-10T22:59:00.000-04:00

I learned something today. When I was deciding on which Q word to use in today’s post I discovered this lovely bird. He is a California Quail and the state bird of California. He looks regal doesn’t he?

You can find more things that start with Q at ABC Wednesday.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-05-06T23:38:00.001-04:00

I tried to get my shadow as I took the picture. It really turned out strange because I wanted the camera in the shadow. I’m wide, but not that wide. I had a tote bag hanging from my wrist and my coat must have swung out. And I really didn’t know that I held my pinky up like that. It looks so funny!

You can find lots more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

P is for … Praying Mantis

2011-05-03T20:10:00.001-04:00

We don’t often see a praying mantis in a mall parking lot. This one was spotted last summer. That’s my husband’s shoe in the corner.

Find out what else starts with P at ABC Wednesday.

Photo Hunt–Square

2011-04-30T23:12:00.003-04:00

I just took some squares and threw them together. Yeah, right! This jacket is made primarily of squares and rectangles. It took a lot of work but I love the outcome and the jacket is very comfortable to wear.

You can find more squares at Photo Hunt.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-04-29T01:14:00.001-04:00

This picture of my husband’s parents was taken in March 2004. We were visiting Bok Tower Gardens, one of the prettiest places in Florida.

You can find more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

O is for … Ouch!

2011-04-26T22:37:00.000-04:00

I found this cute display in a yard on US23 in Cheboygan, Michigan. I thought it was clever.

You can find more things that start with ‘O’ at ABC Wednesday.

Shadow Show Sunday

2011-04-21T21:42:00.001-04:00

I found this unusual purple martin house in Lorraine, Ohio, on the shore of Lake Erie.

You can find more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

N is for … Night Sky

2011-04-19T16:36:00.001-04:00

The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
   no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
   their words to the ends of the world.

Psalm 19:1-4(NIV)

A study was done in Australia and they determined that the unaided eye can see approximately 8000 stars. From personal experience, I know that just binoculars can show you many times more stars than you can see without them. The night sky is so beautiful but so hard to see if you live in an area lighted at night. The picture below shows how we look when the night sky looks down on us. If you take a look at Australia you can see why it was chosen as the area to do the test.

Both photos are courtesy of NASA.

To see what else starts with ‘N’ head over to ABC Wednesday.

M is for … Marigold

2011-04-12T17:08:00.001-04:00

It’s still a bit too early for a display like this one. I took this picture last year at an area nursery. I bought an entire flat and lined my front flower beds with marigolds. They are my favorite flower for planting outside.

The flowers come in 4 packs and I tried very hard to get at least one of every kind. This one is my favorite. The flower was much prettier than the picture.

Be sure to head over to ABC Wednesday to see what else starts with M.

L is for ... Leslie

2011-04-05T23:57:00.000-04:00

My hometown is Leslie, Michigan. It's a small town in farming country. Leslie will be celebrating its 175th birthday later this year. By the way, "There is no 'z' in Leslie." There's even a Facebook group by that name. We are quite sensitive about how our town's name is pronounced. Yes, I still consider it my town even though I now live about 15 miles north. Three generations of my family graduated from Leslie High School - my parents, my siblings and me, and my daughter.

This picture was taken from the middle of downtown facing south.

Recently, Leslie made the national news. My husband saw it on the CNN website. On March 26 there was a major fire in the middle of our historic downtown. Downtown is one block long with a few businesses spilling over the ends. This fire took a large bite out of the street. Moo's Bar was the location of the fire. It and the buildings on either side of it have been condemned. Even worse, tho, is that the roof of Moo's came down on 10 firefighters. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. All 10 firefighters and the tenant from the upstairs apartment were treated and released at Sparrow Hospital in nearby Lansing. Several area fire departments rushed to Leslie's aid following a may day call.

If you enlarge the second photo and look closely, you can see the clock from the photo at the top through the trees. Main Street has since reopened with the three buildings at the left fenced off.

You should know that this is a very unusual happening in Leslie. When Main Street is closed it's usually because of a parade or the annual Fall Festival.

You can find more things that start with L at ABC Wednesday.

Scenic Sunday

2011-04-02T19:49:00.001-04:00

Along the northern coast of Trinidad.

You’ll find many more beautiful pictures at Scenic Sunday.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-04-01T23:21:00.001-04:00

We were at a rest stop in Shenandoah National Park. There were quite a few people around. Most of us had cameras in hand as this lovely lady walked around within about ten feet of us.

You can find more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

K is for … Kitty

2011-03-30T01:10:00.000-04:00

What would you do for a Klondike bar?

Find out what else starts with K at ABC Wednesday.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-03-27T01:10:00.001-04:00

This picture was taken last April in front of Olive Garden. We were there to celebrate my birthday and our friends' wedding anniversary. It was the perfect spring day. Everything was in bloom, the sun was shining brightly, it was warm, and we were sharing the day with great friends.

You can find more interesting shadow pictures at Shadow Shot Sunday.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-03-18T13:36:00.001-04:00

The trees in my backyard cast late afternoon shadows on my neighbor’s house.

Find more interesting shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

I is for … Inland Seas Maritime Museum

2011-03-15T15:45:00.001-04:00

This museum on the southern shore of Lake Erie, in Ohio, was a lovely stop on our lighthouse vacation last summer.

One of the features of the museum was this recreation of the bridge of a boat. It was the actual materials just rebuilt here.

This lighthouse was also next to the museum. We were not able to go inside but as you can see it isn’t very tall and the balcony of the museum gave us pretty much the same view.

This is me next to a Fresnel lens. I don’t remember the order of this lens. It’s not nearly big enough for a first order. I think it is probably a 2. I’ve seen a 1 at the Museum at Whitefish Point in Michigan’s upper peninsula. I barely come up to the focal point on that one.

Head on over to ABC Wednesday and see what else starts with I.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-03-11T21:47:00.001-05:00

Early morning shadows in my backyard.

Head over to Shadow Shot Sunday to see more shadows.

H is for … Houses

2011-03-08T21:52:00.001-05:00

I could live in one of these houses, couldn’t you? It’s either a large pond or a very small lake on an island in Lake Erie. The tranquility of the setting really called to me. What a wonderful place to spend a summer.

Head on over to ABC Wednesday to see what else starts with H.

G is for … Grand Hotel Porch

2011-03-01T13:12:00.001-05:00

In May of 05, MWH (Most Wonderful Husband) and I attended a marriage enrichment seminar on Mackinac Island. It was held in the Grand Hotel. We’re a little too frugal to pay the regular price to stay there, but it was a good deal and we really loved our time there. One of the things the Grand Hotel is famous for is having the longest front porch in the world. This picture shows MWH and most of the porch. The bridge in the background is the Mackinac Bridge between the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan.

You can find other things that begin with G at ABC Wednesday.

Shadow Shot Sunday – Beaumont Tower

2011-02-25T23:49:00.001-05:00

It was a beautiful summer evening a few months ago. We decided to walk on campus at Michigan State University. I was able to shoot this picture of Beaumont Tower. I love the play of shadows from the surrounding trees on the tower. This tower contains a carillon and is an iconic structure on campus.

You can find more intriguing pictures of shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

F is for … Foot

2011-02-22T23:53:00.001-05:00

Three weeks ago I had the big toe on my right foot straightened. Because the big toe is so important in walking I cannot put weight on it for a full month. I have 9 days to go. And even then I’ll be walking in the boot. Here’s a picture of the boot.

The part that looks like hard plastic is really plastic covered metal as is the bar running up each side. There are flaps over my toe, ankle, and leg that close with Velcro and 5 straps. This is a really high tech surgical boot! I’m so glad it’s comfortable and that it’s winter. Can you imagine how hot this would be in July?!

So no weight on the foot for a month. I’m really getting tired of sitting in my recliner. But I have a great toy to get around on. It’s officially called a Turning Leg Caddy or a TLC. I call it my trolley or my scooter.

Isn’t it wonderful? I just kneel on it and use my left foot to push myself around. I can get up some speed going down the hallway but the new laminate flooring (isn’t it beautiful?) is a floating floor and absorbs so much of the energy that I usually can’t coast all the way to the end of the hall and across the threshold. The church hallway gives me a much better ride. Oh, I was sooooo tempted in the doctor’s parking lot the other day. It slopes for its entire length. But I only coasted down as far as the van. I may be a little nuts, but I’m not crazy! I’d rather not have to have more surgery because I smashed up my little trolley in the parking lot!

Check out what else starts with F at ABC Wednesday.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-02-19T01:36:00.000-05:00

I took this picture when we visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia. In this large circular room several quotes are carved into the wall just below the glass ceiling. If you are ever in the area or even remotely close to it, this museum is well worth the visit.

You can find more shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.

Thursday Challenge – Trees

2011-02-17T01:20:00.000-05:00

Everywhere we looked we saw millions of trees. I’m not exaggerating. We could see for miles from the road. Hill after hill after hill after valley after hill… all covered with trees. We were on Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park.

We took a hike to a waterfall. The trail went down 440 feet in 1 1/4 miles. It was beautiful. Even coming back up – I thought I might die. MWH went on ahead because he got tired of waiting for me to stop and catch my breath. I’m hoping to go back again now that I’m getting stronger. I’m guessing I’ll do a lot better next time.

This picture was taken along the trail. Under the canopy of all those trees, the Appalachian Mountains are pretty rocky. How about those roots?

This week’s theme:

"TREES" (Saplings, Gnarly Trees, Snow Covered, Bonsai, Dead Tree, Shade Tree,...)

Next Week: MOVEMENT (Shaking, Falling, Bouncing, Jumping, Curling, Sagging,...)

You can find more tree pictures at Thursday Challenge.

E is for … Eidleweiss

2011-02-15T14:23:00.001-05:00

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss,Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever.

Small and white clean and bright
You look happy to meet me
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Edelweiss,Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever

Head over to ABC Wednesday to see what else starts with E.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-02-10T23:09:00.000-05:00

This shadow is me taking a picture of our (then) new house. That was 7 and a half years ago. We still love the it.

Find more great shadow pictures at Shadow Shot Sunday.

D is for … Daisy

2011-02-08T01:46:00.000-05:00

It’s July 2008 and the family has been enjoying their time at the lake. But Daisy is confused. Why is Mom putting all our stuff in the car? I like it here. I think we should stay longer!

Oh well, I guess if we have to go I might as well get comfortable.

She’s an adorable bulldog. She loves attention!

Join us for ABC Wednesday and see what else starts with D.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-02-04T01:10:00.000-05:00

This shadow is our van on the expressway as we’re headed to church. Good amount of snow on the ground and much more to come. We ended up with an additional 20 inches over Tuesday night and Wednesday! MWH says it was light and fluffy and easy to blow away.

Head on over to Shadow Shot Sunday for more great shadows.

C Is For … Clean Up Crew

2011-02-02T02:00:00.000-05:00

This is my kind of clean up crew. I’d love to have all of them in my lap at once. I love cats especially in the kitten stage!

See what else starts with C over at ABC Wednesday.

Ruby Tuesday

2011-01-31T23:24:00.000-05:00

These beautiful blooms greet me every spring. And I'm SOOOO ready for spring.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-01-29T14:55:00.001-05:00

The best part of walking around the lake is when we’re walking in the shadows of the trees.

You can find more great shadow pictures at the home of the Shadow Shot Sunday meme.

Thursday Challenge–Cold

2011-01-27T17:41:00.001-05:00

This ice sculpture was part of an outdoor show of ice sculptures a couple of years ago in Lansing. The local minor league baseball team is the Lugnuts – thus ‘Go Nuts’. That was about the coldest outdoor event I’ve attended. But it was still a lot of fun.

Check out Thursday Challenge for more pictures of cold things.

B ... Is For Blossoms In My Tea

2011-01-26T11:44:00.000-05:00

My daughter is a tea lover. She recently bought a beautiful set of tea glasses with blossom teas. The glasses are double walled to keep the tea warm and your hands cool. Once you have put the hot water in the glass you drop in a dried up, tied up bundle. From that plain little bundle comes the beautiful blossoms you see below. And the tea tastes great, too!

Check out ABC Wednesday to see what else B is for.

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-01-22T03:17:00.000-05:00

Dad called my younger sister and me to have our picture taken on the roof. Mom freaked out. She didn’t want her little girls up on the roof! But this is what Dad had in mind. That’s his shadow of course. I’ve always loved this photo. I was probably 7 and my sister 3 or 4 years old.

Thursday's Top Ten

2011-01-20T13:42:00.001-05:00

This past Monday, those of us in the US, celebrated the birthday of one of the greatest Civil Rights leaders ever to walk this planet. Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you had a dream and could change the world. What are the top ten things you would change?

Click on the icon above to find more responses or to play along.

I may be a bit too pragmatic for this one. I know that for things to change, people's hearts must change. Their history and culture must change. But since this is a dream I'll set those practical things aside and give it a try.

A cure for cancer, AIDS, Celiacs Disease and other currently 'incurable' diseases would be found and freely given to all who need it.
All children would be lovingly encouraged by their parents (intact families!) to dream and achieve to their highest ability.
There would be NO substance abuse. Zip Zero Zilch. No drugs, no alcoholics, no emotional eating or drinking.
No physical abuse either!
Businesses would be fair to their employees and make the work environment as pleasant as possible. Everyone who wanted to work would be able to find a job. Sorry, but the foundries will still be unpleasant. Working around hot metal can't be very nice.
The government would revert to the ideals and principles of our Founding Fathers. All governments - not just the US. They would get out of the way and let people and businesses work. There would be so little for them to do that Congress and Senate jobs would become part time with very low pay and no benefits after leaving office. The motivation to run for office would be the desire to serve one's country not the desire for power, money, and influence.
All people would treat each other with respect.
We would all have a sense of right and wrong and try to live our lives accordingly.
Because the government would be out of the hand-out business, churches and communities would again step up and take care of those who need help.
People would not discriminate against or hate people of different races, cultures, social status, abilities or whatever excuses people use today, but work and live together harmoniously.

Like I said, it's a dream. And a little bit pie-in-the-sky. But wouldn't it be nice?

What would you change? Leave your response here in a comment or leave a link to your post about this subject.

Thursday Challenge – Windows

2011-01-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

This Week’s Theme: WINDOW (Reflections, A View Through a Window, House Windows, Car Windows, Glass,...)

I love lighthouses. They were all built or painted differently so mariners could identify the light and their location. Of course, current ships have GPS to tell them where they are and some lights today are just beacons on a tower with no personality at all. I chose these lights because each one has a different style window.

Check out other windows at Thursday Challenge.

Thursday’s Top Ten

2011-01-13T14:34:00.001-05:00

Top Ten movies you could watch over and over.

This is my first time participating in this meme. It looked like fun. I’m not really into watching a lot of movies so it was a bit of a challenge. I’m sure I’ll think of quite a few more later but here are the first ones that came into my mind.

1. White Christmas – There are a lot of Christmas movies I enjoy and watch over and over but this is #1 on my list.

2. Father Goose – I have 2 words for you – Cary Grant.

3. The Incredibles

4. Fiddler on the Roof

5. South Pacific

6. Mclintock

7. Parent Trap

8. Madam X – This is not a 2 tissue movie, but a 2 boxes of tissues movie.

9. Frequency

10. Where Angels Go Trouble Follows

Shadow Shot Sunday

2011-01-08T10:03:00.001-05:00

This is my first entry for Shadow Shot Sunday. My daughter took this picture about a year and a half ago. They were snapping pictures of all the little birds eating crumbs on a restaurant’s patio and captured this great picture of shadows.

What I Wish Santa Had Brought

2010-12-26T01:10:00.001-05:00

I saw this rubber duckie set at Ship of Fools. I think it’s just the cutest thing ever! I tried to get it for myself, but they’re out of stock everywhere. Guess I’ll just have to enjoy the picture.

What do you think? Cute or sacrilegious?

Q is for … Quarter

2010-05-12T04:25:00.001-04:00

I really love the commemorative quarters that have come out in recent years. It was very interesting as each quarter was released to see what the state chose to represent itself. For Michigan’s quarter, several designs were put forward. All included the outline of the state. Some had the Great Lakes and some did not. My favorite had the Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Bridge which connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. There was also a version with Henry Ford’s Model T.

This is the design that was ultimately approved. It was released on January 26, 2004 – exactly 167 years after Michigan was admitted to the Union.

You can find more things beginning with Q at ABC Wednesday.

Technorati Tags: ABC Wednesday

N is for … Nose

2010-04-21T23:10:00.001-04:00

I needed a rig like this last weekend. I was in Virginia helping my daughter while her husband was away. We had a nice time together, but I got a snoot full of Virginia pollen. It was so bad I took a box of tissues and a plastic bag with me to church. Fortunately I only sneezed out loud once and it was during congregational singing so no one really noticed. But I sure used a lot of tissues!

I’m home with my own Michigan pollen now and things have settled down quite nicely. Hope pollen season isn’t bothering you too much.

You can find more things that begin with N at ABC Wednesday.

Technorati Tags: ABC Wednesday

M is for … Marigolds

2010-04-14T11:23:00.001-04:00

I love marigolds. They are one of my favorite flowers. My aunt used to plant them around her garden to keep the bugs out. Mosquitoes don’t like the scent of marigolds. That’s a huge plus in my book. I also love the variety in color and shape. Here are some beautiful pictures of marigolds courtesy of Google for you to enjoy.

Have a marvelous ABC Wednesday! Go see what else starts with M.

Technorati Tags: ABC Wednesday

L is for … Laughing Bride

2010-04-07T19:17:00.001-04:00

Those of you who were once a bride know how much stress you may have to deal with and how much excitement. This can magnify emotions beyond anything rational. I really love everyone’s attitude. They are all enjoying it.

The poor groom says “wawfully … and pancakey” instead of lawfully. It would have set me off, too. Enjoy the video.

You can find more things that begin with L at ABC Wednesday.

Technorati Tags: ABC Wednesday

Friday Quotes

2010-04-01T22:00:00.001-04:00

All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar.
~Helen Hayes

You can find more interesting and inspiring quotes at Friday Quotes.

Technorati Tags: Friday Quotes

Boggle Me Thursday

2010-03-31T22:00:00.001-04:00

Wow! What a great board this week! I found 34 words within the allotted 3 minutes.

bee	ewer	new
beef	fee	node
blew	feel	none
cheer	fen	nor
chew	fern	one
dew	few	reef
done	fewer	ref
drew	here	rod
eel	hew	web
eon	lee	wee
ewe	lewd	were
	nerd

After the 3 minutes I found another 24 words!

beer	ere	red
belch	feed	reed
bled	led	reel
clef	leer	roe
deer	neon	wed
doe	newer	weed
don	nod	welch
drone	ore	wren

Can you find any words I missed?

Head on over to Boggle Me Thursday to see how others did. Why not play along?

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K is for … Kunzite

2010-03-30T23:00:00.001-04:00

Lilac pink (colored by manganese), named after the gemologist G.F. Kunz who described it in 1902. Kunzite has strong pleochroism, showing colorless and two shades of color when viewed from different directions. Kunzite is a fragile stone. Called an "evening" stone, it should not be exposed to direct sunlight which can fade it's color in time.

I looked up pleochroism. It means that the mineral appears to be different colors depending on the angle from which it is viewed.

It’s beautiful isn’t it? It’s often heat treated or irradiated to darken or improve the color. It’s also quite fragile and can chip if it’s bumped against something hard.

You can find other things that begin with K at ABC Wednesday.

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Ruby Tuesday

2010-03-29T23:00:00.001-04:00

MWH gave me these beautiful roses. I love all the different colors. But only one is red. They’re sitting on my desk.

I found this beautiful cross at a shop in Traverse City that carries the work of several local artists. It’s a great shop call Watermelon Sugar.

You can find more red pictures at Ruby Tuesday.

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Mellow Yellow Monday/Blue Monday

2010-03-28T23:00:00.002-04:00

You all know how much I love puzzles. Puzzles of any kind. I found a wonderful site for puzzles a long time ago and go there regularly to play. This is my favorite cut. If you click on the arrow it will take you to the site so you can work this puzzle yourself. There you can chose from about 30 different cuts. So if you like simpler or more complicated you’ll find it.
Once you assemble the puzzle, you’ll see how beautiful these two yellow poppies are on the blue background. Give it a try and let me know if you enjoy it, too.

You can find more yellow or blue pictures at Mellow Yellow Monday or Blue Monday.

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Thanks Entrecard Friends

2010-03-27T22:00:00.001-04:00

Please visit these great blogs that advertised with me this week.

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Boggle Me Thursday

2010-03-24T22:00:00.001-04:00

Another great week for Boggle Me Thursday.
Here are the 20 words I found during the official three minutes.

ate	hut	outs
axe	huts	shout
best	left	tax
elf	let	that
few	mesh	tux
hat	out	weft
hate		wet

After the official time I found only 4 more words.

hot

ohm

ohms

shut

Can you find any that I missed?

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J is for … Juice

2010-03-23T23:00:00.001-04:00

I want to reach into that picture, grab a glass, and take a deep drink. The apple juice is especially beautiful. Sadly, being a diabetic, I shouldn’t drink juice. It gets to the blood stream quickly and makes the glucose level spike.
The nutritionist told me that orange juice is not a serving of fruit, but an orange is. It has to do with the fiber. Tomato juice, however, has all the fiber in the juice so it is a serving of vegetables. And I believe it’s about the only juice I should drink.
At least I can eat the fruit (in moderation) even though I can’t drink it.
What’s your favorite juice?

You can find other things that begin with J at ABC Wednesday.

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Blue Monday

2010-03-21T23:00:00.001-04:00

You can find more pictures of blue things at Blue Monday.

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Thanks Entrecard Friends

2010-03-21T11:10:00.003-04:00

Please visit these great blogs who advertised with me this week.

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Friday Quotes

2010-03-18T23:00:00.001-04:00

Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.
~Augustine

You can find more interesting and inspiring quotes at Friday Quotes.

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I is for … Ice Cream

2010-03-16T23:32:00.001-04:00

Heaven in a bowl. Yum!

You can find more things that begin with I at ABC Wednesday.

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Mellow Yellow Monday / Blue Monday

2010-03-15T23:14:00.001-04:00

My front yard.

Look for more blue or yellow pictures at Mellow Yellow Monday or Blue Monday.

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Thanks Entrecard Friends

2010-03-14T22:00:00.001-04:00

Please visit these great blogs who advertised with me this week.

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Boggle Me Thursday

2010-03-10T23:27:00.001-05:00

Within the 3 minute time limit I found 35 words.

don	nod	shut
dons	nods	sled
fun	red	sleds
held	reds	sun
hod	rest	ted
hods	ret	teds
hut	rets	the
huts	rev	tun
led	set	tuns
lest	shed	vest
let	shun	vet
lets		vets

I kept looking and found only 7 more words.

donut

donuts

nut

nuts

she

shod

stun

Can you find any I missed? Why not head over to Boggle Me Thursday and join in the fun!

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H is for … Herman’s Hermits

2010-03-09T23:00:00.001-05:00

We had lunch on Sunday with friends. R, the husband, always keeps us laughing or thinking. Like MWH and me, he likes to sing a snippet of a song that goes with what’s being said or done. He sang ‘Listen people to what I say…’ I recognized the song, but I’m not good at who sings what. That brought up Herman’s Hermits who sang the song. So I had to sing my favorite Herman’s Hermits song. Here it is.

I like this song because it’s so much fun. I have many other favorites by this band. They formed the band in 1964 in Manchester, England. They only stayed together until 1970 but they had many hits.

Find out what else starts with H at ABC Wednesday.

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Heads or Tails

2010-03-08T22:51:00.001-05:00

The theme/prompt for THIS week, March 9, is:

EDGE - Any past theme

I chose the theme from February 9 – Chain

You can find more posts on varying themes at Heads or Tails.

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MYM – BM – RT

2010-03-07T23:14:00.001-05:00

We’ve been working puzzles again. This one was great fun – 1500 pieces. I wish I had uploaded my picture prior to taking the puzzle apart. The way the sun was shining in the window caused the picture to look a little hazy. The colors are actually extremely vivid.

Click on the badges above to see more yellow, blue, or red pictures.

Technorati Tags: Mellow Yellow,Blue Monday,Ruby Tuesday

Thanks Entrecard Friends

2010-03-06T23:05:00.001-05:00

Go visit these great blogs that advertised with me this week.

Here are February’s top droppers.

Dropper	# of drops
Go Las Vegas Baby!	31
The Third Uncle	31
The Last Bear	31
Traders' Hub	31
Life's sweets and spices	31
moms..... check nyo	31
Take a coffee break...	31
Sparkle	31
A Simple Life	31
Life's Tricky Situations	31

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Photo Hunt – Foreign

2010-03-05T23:47:00.001-05:00

This is the MacArthur Lock at Sault (Soo) Ste. Marie, Michigan, USA. Across the river is a foreign country. The city you see in the distance is Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.

Sault Ste. Marie roughly translates to the falls in the St Mary’s River. With the locks and the flood gates across the center of the river, the falls are like large stretch of rapids. There are 3 locks currently active to take ships around the rapids. Upstream from the locks is Lake Superior. Downstream, the St. Mary’s connects to Lake Huron. It’s fascinating to watch the boats come thru. The upbound ship approaching is a lake freighter that is probably heading to Duluth, MN, to take on a load of taconite pellets – iron ore.

The city itself is as interesting as the locks. This was the first European settlement in the Midwest – founded in 1668. There are many historical sites, tourist shopping places, and the wild beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Lake Superior shoreline are a short drive away. Oh, and for those who don’t really like all the good stuff The Soo has to offer, I hear they have a casino there. Myself, I’d rather head out the the lakeshore. Or across the International Bridge to that foreign country that feels so much like home.

You can fine more foreign pictures at Photo Hunt.

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Friday Quotes

2010-03-04T23:54:00.001-05:00

A little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

You can find more interesting and inspiring quotes at Friday Quotes.

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Boggle Me Thursday

2010-03-03T23:38:00.001-05:00

Wow! What a great board this week. I was focusing on all the wrong stuff until after my timer went off or more of my 78 words would have been within the 3 minutes.

During the 3 minute time limit, I found 32 words.

date	moss	tee
deal	mosses	toe
deals	mote	toss
eel	motel	tosses
eels	motels	tot
lad	sad	tote
lads	sat	tots
last	sea	toy
lee	seas	toys
lets	sot	yet
	sots
	tad

After my timer woke me up I found 46 more words.

ade	moat	slate
ads	moats	slats
ass	most	sleet
ate	oast	sleets
date	oat	smote
dealt	oats	soy
east	sale	stale
easy	salt	steel
eats	salts	steels
elate	sassy	tale
lade	sate	toad
lades	seal	toads
lass	seat	toast
lasses	seats	total
late	sedate	totals
	slate

Did you find something I did not? I already see one I missed. Why not head on over to Boggle Me Thursday and see others’ lists or make one of your own?

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G is for … Grapefruit

2010-03-02T23:58:00.001-05:00

Ruby Red is the best grapefruit. My mouth is watering just looking at the picture. Sweet and grapefruit are not usually in the same sentence, but with this grapefruit they are! Yummy!

You can find more things that begin with G at ABC Wednesday.

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Heads or Tails

2010-03-01T23:09:00.001-05:00

The theme/prompt for THIS week, March 2, is:

HEADS - "Cup"

Make any kind of post using the theme "Cup"

Behind every successful woman is a substantial amount of coffee.

You can find more responses to the theme at Heads or Tails. Go check them out!

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Blue Monday

2010-02-28T23:44:00.001-05:00

Isn’t this little glass dog cute? I found him in Cracker Barrel. I went nuts taking pictures in their store. This is my favorite.

You can find more blue pictures at Blue Monday. Go check them out!

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Mellow Yellow Monday

2010-02-28T23:37:00.001-05:00

Doesn’t this look yummy?

You can find more yellow pictures at Mellow Yellow. Go check them out!

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Thanks Entrecard Friends

2010-02-27T04:52:00.001-05:00

Please go visit these fine blogs that advertised with me this week.

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Boggle Me Thursday

2010-02-25T13:53:00.001-05:00

This is a great board. At first I thought there weren’t a lot of words. But within the 3 minutes I found 31 words. Here they are:

ago	lust	sun
fast	nag	snag
fat	nags	tag
fats	oast	tags
gas	oat	tang
goat	oats	tog
goats	run	togs
got	runs	too
lung	rust	toot
lungs	sag	toots
	stag

I kept playing because the words kept jumping out at me and found 14 more words.

fan	nun
fang	nuns
fangs	tan
fans	tang
gnu	tans
gnus	toga
goo	togas

Can you find words I missed?

You can play along or find other players by clicking on the game board.

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F is for … the 50s

2010-02-24T01:32:00.001-05:00

The 1950s were a great decade.

We had computers…

fancy cars…

romantic dates…

full service gas…

saddle shoes…

TV…

and ME!!!

Look for more things that begin with F at ABC Wednesday.

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Ruby Tuesday

2010-02-23T22:58:00.001-05:00

A downtown fire station.

You can find more red photos at Ruby Tuesday.

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Mellow Yellow Monday/Blue Monday

2010-02-22T05:16:00.001-05:00

I was zipping around the web and found this picture. I thought this kitten in the wig was just too cute for words.

You can find more yellow and/or blue pictures at Mellow Yellow Monday and Blue Monday.

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Thanks Entrecard Friends

2010-02-21T18:42:00.001-05:00

Please go visit these great blogs that advertised with me this week.

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Photo Hunt – Cuddly

2010-02-20T23:57:00.001-05:00

Babies are so cuddly. It felt so good to hold a baby again. My grandson was at this time about 7 years old. This little guy is my friend L’s grandson. He was all dressed up for his Mom and Dad’s wedding. Everyone was so worried that he was drooling on my sleeve, but I didn’t care.

You can find more cuddly pictures at Photo Hunt.

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Boggle Me Thursday

2010-02-18T01:43:00.001-05:00

I plead ignorance or excitement or something for my goof up last week. I forgot all about the three minute rule. This week I played fairly.

In three minutes I found 31 words.

are	lien	rice
ear	line	rice
ears	lore	rile
easy	nice	roe
era	nil	role
eras	nor	sari
ice	oar	say
ire	one	son
lice	ore	squire
lie	ray	yar
	rays

I continued playing after the tree minutes were up and only came up with six additional words.

nosy

oars

oil

roil

rosy

sore

How about you? How many words can you come up with?

Click on the badge to visit Boggle Me Thursday and join in the fun!

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E is for … Egg Salad Sandwich

2010-02-17T01:51:00.001-05:00

Yummy!

You can find more things that begin with E at ABC Wednesday.

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Ruby Tuesday

2010-02-16T01:10:00.001-05:00

Only in my dreams. Sigh.

You can find more red pictures at Ruby Tuesday.

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Mellow Yellow Monday/Blue Monday

2010-02-15T04:16:00.001-05:00

This winter is turning into a puzzle season. This one was so much fun to do. It’s 1500 pieces. Each of the eggs is about 9 inches long. The colors are so vibrant and the designs so intricate. It was much more beautiful than the photo.

You can find more yellow and blue pictures by clicking on the badges above.

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Thanks Entrecard Friends

2010-02-14T01:10:00.000-05:00

Please go visit these great blogs that advertised with me this week.

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Photo Hunt – Broken

2010-02-13T01:11:00.001-05:00

This is my brother Chuck’s (Secondary Roads) cat, Midnight. You can see his poor little tail has been broken and healed poorly. The incident happened before he moved into the house. You can read more about him at Secondary Roads.

You can find more broken pictures at Photo Hunt.

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Boggle Me Thursday

2010-02-11T01:23:00.001-05:00

I found a new game to play! Boggle is a favorite of mine. Check out Boggle Me Thursday. You might want to play along, too.

Here’s this week’s tray. I found 52 words. How many can you find?

air	path	spa	taps
airs	paths	spat	tar
ant	rat	stair	tars
any	rats	stairs	tart
apt	sari	star	tarts
art	sat	start	tat
arts	say	starts	tats
hat	shirt	stir	that
his	shy	stirs	thirst
hit	sir	strait	thirsty
hits	sirs	straits	this
nay	sit	tap	trait
pat	sits	tap	traits

Ruby Tuesday

2010-02-09T22:00:00.001-05:00

He ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog.

You can find more red pictures at Ruby Tuesday. Go visit!

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Mellow Yellow Monday/Blue Monday

2010-02-08T04:51:00.001-05:00

Did you know that the average child laughs 400 times a day? And that the average adult only laughs 70 times a day? Somewhere in the course of growing old we lose 330 laughs. That’s a lot of laughs! So lighten up and laugh! You’ll be much happier.

People who laugh actually live longer than those who don’t laugh. Few persons realize that health actually varies according to the amount of laughter

-Dr. James Walsh

You can find more yellow or blue pictures by visiting Mellow Yellow Monday or Blue Monday.

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Thanks Entrecard Friends

2010-02-07T18:45:00.001-05:00

Please go visit these great blogs who advertised with me this week.

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Photo Hunt – Average

2010-02-06T20:10:00.001-05:00

Not your average coffee flavors.

You can find more average pictures at Photo Hunt.

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Aloha Friday

2010-02-05T01:05:00.001-05:00

Welcome to this week’s edition of Aloha Friday.

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day to take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link here and at the main Aloha Friday site, too.
My question is:

Do you watch the Super Bowl? For the game or the commercials?

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Thursday Challenge

2010-02-04T23:29:00.001-05:00

"SOMETHING DIFFERENT" (Unusual, Strange, Rare, Different, One of a Kind, Weird,...)

An unusual view of the Mackinac Bridge.

Next Week: ROMANTIC (Flowers, Chocolates, Hearts, Lace, Red, Pink, Sunset, Holding Hands,...)

You can find more pictures of something different at Thursday Challenge.

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C is for … Colorful Cactus

2010-02-03T14:32:00.001-05:00

This beautiful fishhook cactus is also wicked. Click on the picture to fully appreciate the fishhook spines.

You can find more things that begin with C at ABC Wednesday.

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