Thinking about the earth today…

Wishing we would treat her with more respect...

Linking to A Rural Journal’s Tuesday Muse.

I used Nancy’s Beth texture when I processed this photo.  Thanks, Nancy!

Some Random Photos & Some Random Thoughts…

I've got the blues...

Pug Cam

1)  I have always thought that I have a problem with summer doldrums, because there gets to be a point in the summer when I just can’t wait for it to be over.    But I am beginning to realize that I get this way each season around this time.  I think I just love the change.  Right now, I am heartily sick of green and wanting the more variegated autumn tones.  At some point in the autumn, I will be looking forward to the blues, greys and browns of winter.  Then, of course, it will be the spring pastels…  While most people’s lives revolve around the sun, apparently mine revolves around the color wheel.

2)  But with the doldrums, comes a distinct lack of creativity, which is why I haven’t been posting so much lately.   I need to turn that around.

3)  I went to the grocery to get a snack to take down to the beach tonight for our regular Friday Cocktails at the Beach.  My intention was olives, pita chips and humus.  I forgot the humus.  As I was trying to figure out if it is worth another trip, Greg called and said he would pick some up on his way home from playing golf.  Yay, Greg!  The traffic is pretty horrible today.  People are getting their last summer vacation licks in.  The Mass Turnpike is a mess so that means there are strangers wandering around our town trying to figure out how to get where they are going using alternate routes.  Bah humbug!

4)  You know, the weather here in Massachusetts has been just fabulous since we got back from our trip to Ohio.  Here’s to that!  Earlier this summer, I wouldn’t have wanted to spend any time outside…not even for Friday Cocktails at the Beach.

5)  I am doing something creative actually.  I’m crocheting two little monsters.  They don’t have personalities yet since I haven’t put on their faces, but I will show you how they turn out.  I hope to be done with them early next week.

LINKING TO A RURAL JOURNAL'S

RANDOM 5 FRIDAY!

Life is like a bowl of onions…

“Onions can make people cry, but there’s never been a vegetable that can make people laugh.”

~Will Rogers

LINKING TO A RURAL JOURNAL'S 

TUESDAY MUSE

The Things You See Along the Way: Rainy Day in Noho Edition…

This is the way the day looked as I rolled into Northampton, Massachusetts, yesterday to spend some time with my daughter, Carrie.  It was raining cats and dogs…well, at least cats at that point and this was taken between windshield wiper swipes.

Because of the rain, Carrie suggested that we park in the town garage that is connected to Thornes Marketplace, which is a shopping center in Northampton that is full of independently owned retailers.  Of course, everyone else had the same idea so we had to park on the roof.  This caught my eye.  Typical of Northampton, even on the kind of grungy roof of the parking garage, someone stuck a “Love” sticker.

While we were sitting and waiting in Thornes for a table at one of our favorite restaurants, Paul and Elizabeth’s, I was taken by the reflections in the newly polished floor…

and by the way the light hit this wreath on the wall…

After a nice lunch, Carrie and I did a little shopping.  I bought some marbles, a coloring book and, duh!, an umbrella.  Though I was sorely tempted by this display, I didn’t buy any of these charming creatures.

Then we went on to the real purpose of my visit, which was to help Carrie pick out yarn for a baby afghan she is intending to make for one of her friends.  But the weather never really cleared up yesterday.

Mt. Tom is somewhere behind that van.

A look at the bumper sticker(s) of the day:

Today looks like the perfect summer day.  But I had a good time yesterday in spite of the weather.

Weeds are flowers too...

I took a ride to another town near here where I often stop to take pictures of the pond -- Quaboag Pond.  Because I am doing my 365 Project on Flickr, I felt the need for a change of scenery today.  While I was wandering around there, I came across this pinkish, purple plant growing between the rocks of the jetty.  It just grows there on its own, so I guess it would be considered  a weed.  But isn't it jaunty and beautiful?  I took a few pictures  just to get to know it a little better.

Today I am linking up with A Rural Journal's Tuesday Muse.

And thank you, Nancy! I used your Coffee Break texture when I processed this photo.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday...

Even though we were on the road last week, I did manage to find something in my files for all the prompts this week.  Here they are:  Body Part, Wednesday, Music, Guess What It Is and Mirror Image.  Here are my entries.

I decided to use a picture of some Ring-tailed Lemurs for the BODY PART pic.  I think they have a lot of cool body parts from their noses to their cool tails and they have they have the most expressive eyes.

On WEDNESDAY this week, we took my mother out to a newish restaurant in Middletown, Ohio, where I grew up.   The restaurant is called Stained and it is adjacent to a stained glass studio.  I would say that the restaurant is decorated in Old Church Chic.  It's beautiful.  And I had a very nice salad...probably the most healthy meal I had while we were away.

Falling water is MUSIC to my ears.  This was taken at the Fort Wayne, Indiana, Botanical Conservatory, a very pleasant place to spend an afternoon.

GUESS WHAT THIS IS?  The answer will be at the end.

I took a MIRROR IMAGE portrait of my daughter Carrie and me in a gazing ball at the Fort Wayne Botanical Conservatory.

And here's the answer to guess what this is.

And here's what I have to say about these.  I didn't get to try these, because I bought them for my sister, but I bet they are good.  They come from the best attraction in northern Ohio after the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Grandpa's Cheesebarn is a must stop and see if you are passing through northern Ohio on I-71 and are anywhere close to Ashland, Ohio.  It's a cheeselover's dream and there are many more fun things to sample and buy there. And don't forget to check out Sweetie's where you can buy such delights as chocolate covered Fritos.

LINKING TO ASHLEY SISK'S SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY!

Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo...

A couple of days ago, we went to the Cincinnati Zoo to get a glimpse of Gladys.  Gladys is the little gorilla who was rejected by her birth mother and was sent to the Cincinnati Zoo. The zookeepers there acted as surrogate mothers for her at first.  Recently, however, the zookeepers introduced Gladys to her gorilla foster mom M'Linzi.  It was good news that M'Linzi accepted Gladys right away and so did M'Linzi's daughter Mara.  Together, they have been caring for the very adorable Gladys for the last few weeks. 

Gladys is only out for a limited time for viewing and only if the weather is cooperative.  I was worried that she wouldn't be out while we were in the park, but we got lucky and Gladys came out on time and was out for just a little while before her gorilla moms decided to take her in.  Here she is:

While Gladys was out, her surrogate mom Mara was keeping a close eye on her and everyone in the area.

I got a chuckle when I looked at this sign.  I am sure that the gorillas throw more than dirt.  Can't say that I can really blame them.

 Gladys, Mara and M'Linzi went inside after about ten minutes so we went off to explore other creatures at the zoo...like this cheeky giraffe.

 We saw another blue tongued creature, a Blue Tongued Skink, named Periwinkle.

A very tired lion.

And a White Handed Gibbon family.  The parents gave each other a spontaneous hug as the kid looked on.  It's hard to believe that these creatures don't have feelings.

 

And this Orangutan, Lana, who apparently likes to sit around with paper draped over her head.

 I went back to our hotel very tired but very happy to have spent some time with these wonderful creatures in such a nice surrounding.

THE END