Zoo Visit

Filed Under Mr C | 19 comments

With new camera in hand I wanted to visit our local zoo; so who better than Mr C to be my guide?  Isn’t he just the most handsome? (very serious checking out the zoo map) By the way — look at those darn eyelashes! (What is it with the good lord giving BOYS and gorgeous animals all the eyelashes?– another topic for later)

Momma and 1 year old baby were featured today…

Perfect example of the eyelashes — She is so darn cute! I offered her my tweezers for her chin hairs but she wanted nothing to do with them.

*sigh* More eyelashes 

These gorgeous monkeys have the coolest long tails. It was very hot, so they just lounged around. (I am still working on my camera settings) I was trying to get the animals BEHIND the chain fences — but have to admit I got some lovely shots of fences instead. (I will work on that) anyone have the magic trick for that — send it my way.

I don’t know for sure but something just tells me he is NOT having that much fun. He kept playing with this hanging ball just to amuse all us people who were saying…”ahhh, look how cute.”  He was thinking… “uh huh… sure … I’m cute… this is what I get paid the big bucks for.”

Mr C was kinda worried the beautiful Giraffes would gobble his hair, thus the concerned look…

Yet another example of the eyelashes…

But seriously, I wouldn’t put him in harms way… he was pretty far away.  (now my sister can breath again — break out the resuscitator) I told you I would take good care of him.

Then we rounded a corner to find a fenced in area… Sign said: RED PANDA… I looked and looked.

“ahh Bud… doesn’t look like he is out for us to see today.”

“nope… I know he is here, I remember from when I was here last.”

“When were you here last?”

“In Kindergarten.” (That was 3 years ago.)

So he kept looking then pointed to the tip tip top of the tree…

“look!  I told you he would be here!”

” Are you sure? I can’t see him.”

“Ahem! Look right up there!” pointing to the top of the grove of trees.

“Well, darlin I am not so sure… seems like we are just looking at a bunch of branches and leaves.”

“Nooo, come around here! You will see him!”

So I walked a bit closer to him and looked up.

“Well, what do you know! Look at that cute guy. You are the best Zoo tour guide I have EVER had!”

“Yah, I know.”

(lovin my new Zoom lens)

This nervous female  was obviously behind a pane of glass that needed our local window washers!  She walked back and forth…

… and Back and Forth…

This sweet heart loved posing for me. I am sure she was saying,  “hello, yes I am lovely and fluffy and don’t you think my ankle bracelet is the coolest?”  Yes, I did in fact.

Last but not least… PERFECT example of something on a typical, ordinary day I do NOT find Beautiful… but today, behind that lovely safety glass I think this green guy is kinda cool. *shivers*

Biggest thanks to my MR. C who brought me more laughs and smiles than I have had in a very long time. You brightened my heart like you will never know. Thanks for having the patience to put up with me. Smooch! you cute thing!

Please stop by Beverly’s for our PINK SATURDAY meme.

Now, let’s all link up and share with everyone what you are finding Beautiful!

Remember to Link with in your blog BACK to this one and please leave a comment and tell us what you are doing this summer just for fun!

Thanks so much for joining us — I so appreciate all the comments and lovely friends I have made with this weekly meme.

TTFN~~Claudia ♥ ♥

July 29, 2010 at 6:21 pm | Mr C | 19 comments

It’s HOT

Filed Under summer | 19 comments

I might just break out my own person water pistol if one more person asks… “is it HOT enough for you?”

A good pioneer woman I would NOT have made.

The trail would’ve killed me OR my trail-mates would’ve shot me because of all the whining I would’ve been doing.

I am a lover of Air-Conditioning. *blowing kisses* to the inventor of such a wonderful life saver.

In the spirit of keeping cool… I am staying inside and playing with some shots of Summer.

This one is straight out of the camera…(SOC)… from the ants point of view.

Simply just Black and White

This one is a setting called Vibrance

Holga-ish is a fun one!

Orton-ish is one of my all time favorites — I use it a lot (but I tone it down a bunch)

Which one do you like?

~~ ♥ ♥  ~~

I work near this wonderful play land — I stop by and let the breeze blow some spay my way… ahhhh

A little more water pleeez!

All- right-y then! No wonder this is called Cowabunga!!
~~ ♥ ♥ ~~

Join with us as we celebrate  Friday~~Finding Beauty

No matter your definition– share with us by linking to your blog post, wherein you will be sure and link BACK to this one.

Of course, please leave a comment as I love to hear what you are all doing this summer.

If I am looking at the map of the United States– we are all pretty much HOT– how’s the weather where you live?

Have a wonderful weekend!

~~TTFN ~~Claudia

July 22, 2010 at 6:35 pm | summer | 19 comments

Early garden walk

Filed Under flowers | 18 comments

It’s scorching hot!  But not too hot to enjoy the gorgeousness of mother nature.  I know I have been on a flower kick lately but in the summer time I think we have to be allowed a little indulgence.

It’s when I am alone on a walk or appreciating the beauty around me that I realize had I not taken the time to be still and listen and look –I would not have been open enough to find something new or revisit something I long ago appreciated that may be coming back into my life.

A second chance if that is what we want to call it.

Ahh the beauty of blogging — a place to share something that we might have appreciated before but now can again and with others.

Now the “only ifs” set in… Only if I could paint something this brilliant and inspiring. (maybe that will be NEXT summer)

Hope you are enjoying your little spot in the world with the BEAUTY that is around you.

~~ Welcome to Friday- Finding Beauty ~~

Join in and Link with us all as we celebrate our definition of beauty.

(you know the drill — Link back to this post somewhere in YOUR post)

Of course leave a comment!  Love hearing from all of you.

TTFN~~ Claudia  ~~ ♥ ♥

July 15, 2010 at 7:44 pm | flowers | 18 comments

Summer hazy days

Filed Under summer | 28 comments

When you were young, did summer seem like it went on forever?

Walk with me as I visited some of my favorite gardens this morning…

It was so quiet. The wind decided to take a break and the bugs and the birds were  just waking up.

A perfect spot to get lost in a book.

Didn’t your grandmother’s garden have hollyhocks?

After playing around with this shot a bit, I could almost picture the princess that lives here.

Summer stretches forever in a child’s eye
A delicious haze of play-filled days
and pink tinged evening skies.
Castles at the beach, croquet on the lawn,
flying kites from windy heights, birds twittering at dawn.
Picnics in the meadow, waltzers at the fair,
Sticky ice-cream fingers, and all without a care.
Let me never as an adult, let the pace of life and reason
mask the joy of the simplest pleasures
of lavender-scented season. (author unknown)

~~ ♥ ♥ ~~

Be sure to visit Beverly on Saturday and the Pink kids

Thanks for joining us on Friday~~Finding Beauty

Please be sure to link your post back to us for others to enjoy.  Also I would love if you left a comment.

Enjoy your lazy hazy dayz…

TTFN~~Claudia  ~~ ♥ ♥ ~~

July 8, 2010 at 8:20 pm | summer | 28 comments

Beautiful Birthday

Filed Under Fourth of July | 38 comments

Welcome to Friday Finding Beauty in conjunction with Celebrating our Nations Birth!

Just thinking about our country on it’s birthday chokes me up.

Yes, I am an admitted blubber head when it comes to how I feel about my America.

At any given sports event where they sing the National Anthem I often can’t get to the end because I am wiping my tears.

Friday Finding Beauty is where we each celebrate what we find to be beautiful in our own lives!

The fourth of July is a holiday that I provides wonderful memories.  As far back to when I would go to Kansas for family reunions– to when my children were young– to present day!

 

Who can resist a Fourth of July parade? (this photo taken way back in 1986 – Film- is still one of my favorites!) My young boys loved summer, flip flops, hats of all kinds and certainly showing off their very own parade!

 

 

Or a wonderful Rodeo

 

 

Food always seem to jump to mind when reminiscing.

Strawberries — Watermelon– hot dogs and mustard

What are some words that pop into your mind when you think of the Fourth?

Here’s a fast list…

OFF bug spray~~~Baseball games~~~Lemonade~~~Picnic baskets full of our most special recipes

(click here for photographer)

And… of course the smell of SULPHER from the fireworks!

When I was a young girl, I raided my piggie bank to buy some firecrackers. My mother had specifically told us not to, so of course it was all that more exciting to grab my younger sisters to help me in my rule breaking adventure.  We got the Black Cats and headed to an empty field not far from our house. We were having a great time when the one I had just lit had a fast fuse and exploded in my hand just next to right ear! I screamed and the horrified look my sister’s  face gave us enough adrenaline to run home like jack rabbits with their tails on fire.

As we arrived another horrified thought hit us all simultaneously — me being hurt was the LEAST of our worries– but the thought of how on earth we were going to tell my mother scared us to death. Thankfully she was off at the store and calm eventually prevailed… I couldn’t hear anything in that ear for years… and to this day I have tinnitus — but we never admitted our outing until we were much MUCH older…   I think i was like 40. Sorry Mom (but hey! just like I have always said– misadventures makes for GREAT memories)

 

I know many of you don’t listen to other bloggers music;  but if you want a real treat I found a wonderful “song” by Charlie Daniels –  go to my MUSIC PLAYER (on my right side bar) and click on The PLEDGE — if you are like me it won’t end with you having a dry eye.

 

May your family enjoy this blessed holiday! Be safe and light a firecracker for me!

This week at Beverly’s Pink Saturday– she has a little different spin due to the 4th

And of course come Monday visit Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥

Now link up with us at Friday Finding Beauty — please PLEASE be sure and link back to this post.

And always — leave a comment — cuz I just love them– BESIDES I need to hear what words come to mind when you think of the 4th!

 

 

July 1, 2010 at 8:25 pm | Fourth of July | 38 comments

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