Retirement!

After much thought, I have decided to retire this blog.  I appreciate the followers, the faithful who view and make comments, and those who simply view without comment.  However, it has become increasingly difficult to do justice to 2 blogs, and I am finding it a chore, rather than a joy.  I would rather do one thing well, than several things poorly.  And I feel there have been times when I have posted something mediocre, just to have something to say.  That wasn't the reason I started blogging, and is not how I want to be known.

So, having said that, I leave you with a final photo and quote...

Thanks for everything!  (I can still be found over at my other blog, The Road Awaits and on Wordless Wednesday Again.)

Ruby Tuesday

Brightening a little corner of the world in Pigeon Forge, TN...these lovely geraniums.

Linking to Ruby Tuesday.

Quotography - Smile

My mother and her sister, Anne, September 4, 2012.

Linking to Quotography

SOOC Sunday

This is the rose that replaced the rose with the deadly thorns!

Ginger - love the smell!

That's what is in bloom in my garden this week!

Linking to SOOC Sunday.

Mountain Skies

Early morning (7am), Cataloochee Park, North Carolina

A short while later (7:16am), same park.

There is something so majestic and awe-inspiring about the early morning hours in the mountains.

Linking to Skywatch Friday.

Ruby Tuesday

There is something so inviting about a red door!  This church is in Gatlinburg, on the street that leads to my favorite mountain drive, Roaring Fork Motor Trail.

 Linking to Ruby Tuesday.

Quotography - Welcome!

Linking to Quotography, now being hosted by Kaylene.  Thanks for taking over hosting this fun meme!

SOOC Sunday

Once upon a blue moon...8/31/12...

I didn't want to miss out on this event, since it will be 2015 before we see it again...

Linking with SOOC Sunday.

Lake Izak Reflections

Gordonsville, Virginia - Shenandoah Crossing

Looking across Lake Izak on a mild, March morning.

Linking to James' Weekend Reflections.

Skywatch Friday

Just before the rain, on Rt. 460 in Virginia, we saw this lovely sunrise.  Dan quickly pulled over into a church parking lot and I managed to snap a few photos before the color disappeared.

 The clouds quickly darkened the sun and the beautiful rays disappeared...and we resumed our travel.

Linking to Skywatch Friday.

Ruby Tuesday - Parrots!

While we were in Pigeon Forge, TN, we visited Parrot Mountain - a beautiful place, full of all kinds of birds. This beauty was just one of the ones we saw - some had warnings not to touch because they would bite - but others could be hand fed.  In this particular species, the female is red, the male is green!

Female Eclectus

Linking to Ruby Tuesday 2.

Quotography - Favorite August Photo

Linking to Nicolasa's last Quotography.  Be sure to visit her and wish her well in her next venture - motherhood!  Starting in September, Kaylene, at My Whisperings, takes over hosting this meme.

SOOC Sunday

These 2 shots are living proof that Dan is recovering nicely.  I was more than a little annoyed with him when I saw what he was doing...and these photos were my insurance policy!  If he fell in the river and got hurt, I hoped it would show that I was NOT the one who pushed him!

Doesn't look much like a man who is 2 weeks this side of a pacemaker, does he?

Linking to SOOC.

Night Reflections

Night view of the Norfolk Waterfront, taken from the top of the parking garage across from Waterside.

Linking to Weekend Reflections.

August Break

(For those of you who follow both of my blogs, this is a repeat of my post for The Road Awaits.  You don't have to read any further.)

Somewhere around blogland, I heard rumors of an August break from blogging.  I don't remember where I heard it, or who said it, or who even does it!  But, I am going to...

We are headed to Pigeon Forge, TN for some much needed R&R - Dan is recovering nicely, and we have been planning this for some time now.  So, other than auto-posting my Wordless Wednesday Again, I will be mostly offline until Saturday, August 25th.  I am pretty sure I am not going to be able to stand being TOTALLY offline...that is a lot like pulling the plug!  But, I am going to spend my time enjoying the sights and sounds of the mountains - and taking LOTS of photos!  I am really hoping to stock up on some great barns, and fences, and critters...and all the other things that delight the senses!

So, until then...have a wonderful week!  I will catch you when I return!  Peace out...

**Comments off.

Skywatch

Five minutes of skywatching on the road in Arizona, January 25, 2011 - 8:16pm through 8:21pm.  Annemarie, this is for your boys!  More "fire in the sky"!

Linking to Skywatch Friday.

Floral Friday Fotos - on Thursday!

I have finally figured out how to join my friend, Nick, for his Floral Friday Fotos - by linking on Thursday!  Are you confused yet?  I am!

This lovely plant has survived in spite of having been moved several times.  Ruellia, commonly known as wild petunias, Mexican Bluebells, or Mexican Petunias, are not closely related to petunias of the genus Petunia.  The genus was named in honor of Jean Ruelle, herbalist and physician to Francis I of France (from Wikipedia).  I believe this particular one is Ruellia angustifolia, but I am not totally certain.  We cut it down to the ground at the end of every season, and it springs back every year and provides the bees, butterflies and us with many days of enjoyment!

This is where they lived before the last transplanting - they are truly a flower that just keeps on going! We moved them to open up the back yard...they didn't mind at all!

Linking to Floral Friday Fotos.

Ruby Tuesday 2

At the Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, we had an opportunity to view all kinds of transport vehicles.  This little car - the AmphiCar - was first produced in 1961.  By 1965, only 4000 had been produced, so it was never a big market piece.  But, it was a pretty neat little car!  President Lyndon Johnson owned one, and used to like to scare visitors by driving them straight down the hill to the lake, yelling that his brakes were broken!

 In 1965, two of these vehicles successfully navigated the Yukon River in Alaska.  They have also appeared in 4 movies.  What a fun piece of history!

Linking to Ruby Tuesday 2.

Quotography - Back to School

Linking to Quotography, hosted by Nicolasa, for just a little while longer....

Weekend Reflections - Borrowed #2

More of Dan's photos from the St. Louis Lantern Festival.  I sure wish I had been there - but having his photos has been the next best thing!

This dragon was made with plates, salt & pepper shakers and platters!  But that is a story for another day!

Linking to Weekend Reflections by James.