Cold Art

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Travel Spirit

Art is everywhere! Dark/light… cold/warm…hard/soft…Contrasts help us appreciate life.

A little magic is always fun!

Jake loves to roll in the snow and be joyful…and coy!

Taking a walk on our property…leads to a creek…with more Art!

You’re never too old to sled-ride!

Our cabin in the woods. I like that it blends in with nature.

Nature loves to change colors!

The bricks made their own Art!

What magic is around you?

Santa Fe isn’t Cold Enough (…but it Has Mad Arts!) (artblog4you.wordpress.com)
Photograph snowflakes with a basic point-and-shoot camera (instructables.com)
Baby, it’s cold outside (theenlightenedjourney.me)
A Cold and Snowy Night! (ourtomorrow.blogspot.com)
Modern Art Was CIA ‘Weapon’ (drudge.com)
Colossal Snowshoe Art by Simon Beck (synkroniciti.com)

Weekly Photo Challenge — My 2012 in Pictures

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Travel Spirit

2012 was a year of discovery and fun!

I participated in lots of activities…

Pinterest inspired me to make over 125 new recipes! My husband gained a few pounds.

And…I made homemade Febreeze, carpet stain remover, deodorant, In a Pickle Bag, scarves made from t-shirts, and these beautiful Easter centerpieces…

I attended lots of fun festivals, farmers’ markets, parties, and concerts!

I was a tourist in my own hometown of Cincinnati and the surrounding areas…

And–had so much fun seeing familiar places with new eyes through the lens of my camera!

In May/June, I camped for 26 nights of the 40 nights I spent touring seven AMAZING countries in Africa. You can read the first post here!

Met unforgettable people and had once-in-a-lifetime experiences!

Strangers opened their homes to me in South Africa, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida–through an organization called Couchsurfing!

It is an amazing way to meet new people, make travel affordable, and get tips from locals on what to see and do!

My six week-4,200 mile-USA road-trip through North & South Carolina, Georgia and Florida was an adventure! I left in late October and returned home in December.

I so enjoyed walking through all of the cities I visited!

There is so much beauty in the USA!

Florida was too pretty for words!!

I took a wine painting class with girlfriends, went to Columbus, Ohio for a girls’ weekend, and had girlfriends visit me in Florida!

Last…but most importantly…had quality time with family! I thank my husband for being a good sport concerning my passion for travel!

My cousins and I had fun taking photos with Santa!!

I’m not sure what I’ve done to deserve such a rich life…but I’m truly grateful and if 2013 is as good or better than 2012…then all I have to say is…”LIFE IS ~~GOOD~~GREAT IN YOUR 50’s”!

Weekly Photo Challenge: My 2012 in Pictures (travel-monkey.me)
Weekly Photo Challenge: My 2012 in Pictures (dailypost.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge – My 2012 in Pictures (largeself.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate (travelspirit333.com)

Snow Day

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Travel Spirit

I love snow! So…today was a special treat in Cincinnati! Being surrounded by acres and acres of trees provides a winter wonderland to take photographs! I didn’t even notice the cold…standing outside in my house slippers…taking delight in the beauty!

I tried a few new settings on my camera and was pleased with the result. It started sleeting this morning, and turned to snow later today. I was so blessed not to have to drive in it!

“The snow began to fall again, drifting against the windows, politely begging entrance and then falling with disappointment to the ground” ~Jamie McGuire, Beautiful Disaster

“A fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees.” ~William Blake

“The first snow is like the first love. Do you remember your first snow?” ~Lara Biyuts

“There is in every true woman’s heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.” ~Washington Irving

Staying warm by the fire…filled with gratitude! xoxoxo

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow! (greenwoodlakehouse.wordpress.com)
Let It Snow! (dmarienthee.wordpress.com)
Snowing!!! (thislifestatus.wordpress.com)
Sunny today; snow tonight (vttoday.com)

Christmas Celebrations…a time for Friends, Family and Gratitude

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Travel Spirit

I’m sure most of you have multiple Christmas celebrations…with all of the divorced families and grown children splitting their time between families. I enjoy being able to have lots of opportunities for spending time with family and friends! My first celebration was with my son and his girlfriend last weekend. He is spending Christmas with his father, step-mother and sister in Texas. He was excited about seeing his 14-year-old half-sister and I’m so happy that he’s happy!

I received a really special gift from him this year…one of my favorite photographs that I took in Namibia, Africa…framed!

Friday night we spent a wonderful evening with my long-time girlfriend from middle school and her husband. She prepared a delicious fish entrée and then we had game night…a couple games of pool and Wii bowling. Downstairs was decorated for a party their teenage daughter was having the following night.

The photo on the top right is after we arrived home…Randy bringing wood in for the wood burning stove. That’s how we heat the house in the winter!

Saturday night we had lots of fun at a friend’s (more like family) house, along with my brother, his wife, and my niece and nephew. Lynne…the hostess had decorated the table so festively…

We had a different wine with each course…

After the gift giving and white elephant…we sang songs…mostly Christmas songs using a Karaoke machine that hooks up to your I-pad, that Lynne received as a gift.

I was a bit obnoxious with my camera…snapping photos throughout the evening. But, hey…that’s my thing!

My husband was a bit melancholy because all of our parents have passed away. It can be a difficult time for people…but I read an interesting article recently that helps people control and redirect their thoughts. Basically…imagine there is a computer in your head along with a trash bin that you can drag negative thoughts into. I’m usually quite optimistic, so I don’t need to utilize the technique extensively, but it’s amazingly effective.

Christmas day we’ll go my cousin’s in the afternoon and then to the neighbors’! We’re blessed to have such good friends and family!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays (ethicsandvibes.wordpress.com)
Memories of Christmas Eve (journal365.wordpress.com)
Why this atheist celebrates Christmas | Jim Al-Khalili (guardian.co.uk)
In joyless season, Newtown faces Christmas (azfamily.com)
Christmas time! (poulosesarah.wordpress.com)
Christmas Magic (akissofbliss.wordpress.com)
How do you celebrate Christmas? (imconfident.wordpress.com)
merry christmas … (mom2nick.typepad.com)
How grandma celebrates Christmas by herself (silverevolution.wordpress.com)
Spending Christmas Together In St. Charles (fox2now.com)

Wintertime Walk in the Woods

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Travel Spirit

Walking in the woods is magical! Even when you go to the same place over and over again…there are always new ways to look at the same scenes and these scenes change through the weeks and months. There’s nothing like breathing in the sweet-clean-woodsy air and feeling the sun’s rays upon your face. The sky seems bluer in the woods.

I love the way the towering trees cast shadows and surround you with their being…

The paths seem so inviting. Without leaves, the trees don’t seem lonely.

A light dusting of snow still clings to this path…

Icicles glint in the light and seem to sprout from the rocks…like roots from a tree.

The trees admire their reflections in the icy water…

I’m grateful for the woods!

My My Saddler’s Woods… You Are Just So Good! (yummygal.wordpress.com)
Country diary: Waresley Wood, Cambridgeshire: There was something of a church about the woods, the main ride like a nave (guardian.co.uk)
Woods of the future (wtcampaigns.wordpress.com)
Winters in Maryland truly are quite beautiful… (chaosbeyond.wordpress.com)
Everyday Adventure // A Walk on a Snow Day (amnmusic.wordpress.com)
Wintertime Frost (3daysatsea.wordpress.com)
Little Known Facts (blogbosebastian.wordpress.com)

Distorted Reality

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Travel Spirit

These are some photos from my recent trip through the Southern US. I’ve given them a name. If you’d like to play along, I’d love to know what your imagination comes up with…

Window Puzzle

This was a wall in the kitchen of the first lovely Couchsurfing home I stayed in.

Field of Dreams

Searching for Me

Frozen in Time

Behind the Glass

Hope you can all slow down and enjoy the moments!

My Couchstory: Sailing with Couchsurfers (couchsurfing.org)
Where In The World Is Christmas? (atlasfire.wordpress.com)
“Reality Distortion Field” (tirania.org)
Watch: ‘Storage Wars’ Reality Show Might Distort the Truth (abcnews.go.com)

Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Travel Spirit

I’ve never participated in the “Weekly Photo Challenge” that WordPress hosts, so I’m excited to be able to contribute. This week’s challenge is delicate…

This photo was taken earlier this year in Columbus, Ohio. Everyone can interpret delicate slightly differently. My perception/interpretation is something or someone who can easily break or that you need to treat gently. Or perhaps when something/someone touches you delicately, softly or tenderly.

While I’m thinking and writing, the thunder is rumbling and the gray misty skies are lit occasionally with streaks of lightning. Raindrops are delicately clinging to the branches of a bush in front of my house….nature’s very own Christmas lights.

My heart is a bit heavy today…so I’m going to meditate and allow my feelings to be.

weekly photo challenge : delicate (timetobeinspired.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate (joebeans2002.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate. (3rdculturechildren.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate (mytropicalhome.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate (scottseyephotos.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate (hereandthere5.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate (curlybug.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: DELICATE (Wintersky) (picturesinlivingcolor.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Delicate (katiedaisy921.wordpress.com)

Preparing for Christmas

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Travel Spirit

I’ve been quite busy since arriving home from my six-week–4,200 mile–road trip through the Southern U.S. In addition to the normal duties one has when returning from a trip (i.e. unpacking, laundry, opening mail, paying bills, cleaning house, grocery shopping, etc.), with the holidays right around the corner, I decorated the house…

did some Christmas shopping, met a friend for happy hour, responded to party invitations, and took my doggie hiking at the nearby trails. A couple of days ago, I looked out in the front yard, saw the frosty grass and the shadows stretching across the yard and thought how pretty it looked…so I captured the moment…

Tomorrow evening my son and his girlfriend are coming over for an early Christmas celebration because he’ll be going to Dallas to visit his father over Christmas. I’m really looking forward to seeing him, since the last time I saw him was before I left for my trip. I’ll be cooking dinner and a delicious dessert!

In memory of the slain children, here is a photo I took a week ago in Florida of happy frolicking children by the sea at sunset…

May their families hearts not break from the sadness.

Wishing everyone a joyful weekend!

Birthday celebrations, Christmas shopping, Christmas♥ (missdailyblogger.wordpress.com)
A Road Trip Date. (everydayelsie.com)
Road Trip (xbradtc.wordpress.com)
Tips to Planning a Road Trip on a Budget (mint.com)
A Road Trip Timelapse Across the U.S.A., With Background (outsideonline.com)

I’m officially a Photographer!

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Travel Spirit

A while back a lady contacted me from the African Development Bank organization and requested permission to use a couple of my photos from a six-week trip I took through six countries in Africa for a report that was being published on their website. I told her that was fine and actually had forgotten about it until she contacted me recently to inform me that it been published and the credit and link back to my blog was on the second to last page.

The report is entitled “Solutions for a Changing Climate” and this is my photo that was used on the cover page…

Deadvlei in Namib Desert

So…I’m excited about that and realize I need to start taking action to get paid for what I love…photography, adventure, travel and writing!

The African Water Facility, the Government of Sudan and the African Development Bank Jointly Launch the First Peace-Building Water Project in Darfur (appablog.wordpress.com)
African Development Bank funds $63m initiative to improve agricultural productivity on continent (ghanabusinessnews.com)
Africa urged to tackle illiteracy (vanguardngr.com)

Sunset Magic

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Travel Spirit

A couple of days ago my friends–April & Wayne–and I were at Fort Myers Beach to listen to one of Wayne’s favorite bands at the Holiday Inn, which is situated on the beach. Being a local, he knows where to go! Of course, we had to witness Earth’s daily wondrous display of beauty…the sunset!

When looking back at this photo…we don’t recall what we saw…but liked the photo…

April and I both like to do handstands, cartwheels, and generally just act like kids…so we rushed out in the sand and Wayne started snapping…

We both really liked this photo…it’s quite funny with all of the legs flailing around…

This one has a frenzied motion appeal…

Now we’re to the calmer…controlled stances…

We want this for everyone!

After all of that fun…we danced for a while!

It’s fun to engage the crowd! April pulled these gentlemen up to dance and they were quite surprised and good dancers!

I’m leaving Florida today to drive back to Cincinnati and will arrive tomorrow evening. Just in time to put up my Christmas tree, do a little shopping, baking, attend events and get used to the chill!

I had a great six-week road trip and loved meeting all of the new people, seeing new sights, and experiencing new activities! I’m very grateful and also grateful for all of you!! 🙂

Sunset 17 November 2012 (nicileighyukari.wordpress.com)
Sunset at the Yacht Club…Cape Coral, Forida (travelspirit333.com)
Beach Magic (travelspirit333.com)

Beach Magic

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Travel Spirit

Yesterday, April and I had a great day at the Fort Myers Beach! While I was taking a dip in the ocean, I looked up at April and she looked as big as the buildings. It reminded me of the movie that Darrel Hannah was in where she was a giant. It also got me to thinking of how that applies to life and people–how everyone’s perspective is unique to them–shaped by events and people in their lives.

While taking a walk along the beach (which is on my left), I thought this scene of houses and a bit of inlet water was quite pretty.

On our walk, there were plenty of shells to examine and decide which ones were keepers. Here’s April on the hunt…

She found this nice spiral…

I love how the water sparkles like diamonds when the sun hits it, so I asked April to make some magic….

There is magic all around us if we open our eyes!

Fort Myers Beach SandSculpting Championship… (prideinphotos.com)
Late autumn in Southwest Florida – paradise! (mymobileadventures.com)
Fort Myers Beach with the Sherrys (travelspirit333.com)
There’s more to Fort Myers, Florida than Beaches (travelspirit333.com)

Maracas Mania

Posted on December 7, 2012 by Travel Spirit

My friends — April and Wayne — were such fun when I asked them to dance and shake the maracas before we went out for dinner! April is in her early 40’s…don’t you think she’s “hot”? She’s very athletic…in fact she’s out jogging right now as I do this post. She rides a Harley, runs in charity events, bought a boat recently (so she skis)…practices yoga and is a certified holistic health coach (or something like that)!

Of course, Wayne, the guy — has to take it to the next level — juggling with them! And he does it quite well! Isn’t he cute! Wayne is also quite amazing! He’s won awards in his age group (which is still the Fabulous 50’s) for swimming. He swam 12 miles around Key West last year!! He turned me on to the Yoga place here in Fort Myers. He’s also almost single!

Hopefully, we’ve entertained you!

Stay tuned for the next installment of fun!

J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge and Mucky Ducks!

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Travel Spirit

After spending the day on Sanibel and Captiva Islands, I understand why people fall in love with them! Sherry and I stopped at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and hiked a mile around the perimeter loop.

We were on the look-out for alligators…which made it more exciting!

We didn’t see much wildlife because it was the middle of the day. A couple of birds and some turtles!

Sanibel Island is about 12 miles long…so after driving through Sanibel we arrived at Captiva Island. This house caught our eye.

When we arrived to the Allison Hagerup Beach on Captiva, we were prepared to pay the $2.00 per hour fee to park. Unfortunately, I didn’t take my time to read the screen thoroughly and inserted $20.00 and chose the two hour option, before reading the “No change provided” sign on the screen. The irony of this is that I had just chastised my husband a few days earlier for not picking the correct number of hours for our stay.

We took a couple of long walks and I was even able to convince Sherry to brave the chilly water and enter up to her waist.

We timed it just right and arrived to Mucky Ducks at 4:30pm to snag a table on the patio and add our name on the list to be seated for dinner by the windows for the sunset at 5:00pm.

We split the Seafood Platter and a slice of Key Lime Pie!!

We’re getting used to seeing palm trees and Christmas trees next to each other!

What can I say!!

Sherry leaves tomorrow and then my friend April arrives on Thursday. Let’s see how much longer I can find new, fun and interesting things to do here!!

Frank Jackalone: With red tide on west coast and sliming of estuaries on east coast, Florida leaders failing; get Obama to enforce clean water standards (tcpalm.com)
Revitalized! (candylhill.wordpress.com)
What to do on Sanibel Island (travelspirit333.com)
Sanibel Island: Sand, Shells, and Serenity (ireport.cnn.com)
Sanibel & Captiva Island Real Estate Happenings With a Chill in the Air (sanibelsusan.wordpress.com)
Fall Weather Comes to Sanibel & Captiva Islands (sanibelsusan.wordpress.com)

Food, Friends and Fun in Florida

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Travel Spirit

Last night was so much fun! We spent the evening with a couple who are close family friends of Sherry’s—-Curt and Becky. This is the view from their beautiful home in Cape Coral.

We had yummy Cosmopolitan martinis on their sailboat (docked) before heading out to dinner at Rum Runners.

After the sun set…I took a quick photo before we went to dinner…

I usually order fish…but the filet sounded delicious and it was! Sorry…no photo…I was really hungry!

Kurt and Rebecca have been married for over 30 years and he still makes her laugh!!

This was the view from our table at the restaurant…

Who needs a bar when you can have so much fun dancing at home?

I’m keeping this short and sweet…still recuperating!!

Sunset at the Yacht Club…Cape Coral, Forida (travelspirit333.com)
Cape Coral Nights on the Parkway – Friday – FREE (whatshappeningswfl.wordpress.com)

Fort Myers Beach with the Sherrys

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Travel Spirit

My good friend–Sherry–came to visit for 5 days. Today, we started our day with a bicycle ride. In addition to riding along the avenues, I took her to the abandoned golf course next to the condos. It felt like we … Continue reading →