I'm so glad you could stop by. This is my personal blog of daily life and my journey through life. You will find a strong emphasis on family and friends as well as finding my ancestors through genealogy. Unlike my other blogs this blog is more of a catch-all so any topic is fair game.
City Hall Downtown Savannah, Georgia
October 10, 2013
We arrived in Savannah, Georgia shortly before 10:30 AM on October 10, 2013. Within minutes of our arrival we spotted the gem of our destination, Paula Deen's restaurant The Lady & Sons where we were stopping for lunch. It wasn't open until 11 AM so my husband put our name on the reservation list then we took a brief stroll. City Hall is located in downtown Savannah, only a few short blocks from the restaurant. We parked on the road in front of the park (out of camera range) then wandered through the shady park enjoying the warmth of the morning sun. It was absolutely gorgeous, leaving us wish we had planned a longer stay in Savannah!
Green Stairs
August 6, 2013
Part of the enjoyment of a road trip is discovering little gems like these wonderful green stairs. I'm not sure how the colour will affect resale value but it sure got my attention! I just love the creativity!
Beach Rescue
(Cocoa Beach, Florida)
May 10, 2012
The beach is perfect for people watching! As I was walking back to the restaurant, I spotted a
beach rescue 4 x 4. Florida's beaches are heavily used which means from time to time rescue response is needed. Folks don't always heed beach warnings or behave in a unsafe manner and sometimes they just simply get into trouble in the water. Of course, there are always unforeseen medical emergencies as well. It's quite impressive to see how well these beach rescue vehicles are equipped!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2012
Cocoa Beach, Florida
May 10, 2012
We arrived at our vacation home in the late evening of May 8. The couple that came with us would be vacationing with us in Aruba then returning home on May 20 while we would be staying at our vacation home until May 29, returning home in the early morning hours of May 30. We weren't flying out to Aruba until May 12 so took a little time to do some sight seeing.
One of our friends' kids works on the cruise ships and was docked at Port Canaveral so we met up with him in Cocoa Beach for lunch at
Captain J's. Cocoa Beach is well known for it's beautiful beach. I took a quick walk down the pathway from Captain J's to take a few pictures then headed back up to enjoy a lovely lunch on the outdoor deck overlooking the beach. It was a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours with good friends!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2012
Bok Tower Gardens Entrance
December 16, 2011
We enjoy doing a bit of sightseeing each time we stay at our vacation home in Florida. During our stay last December we visited
Bok Tower Gardens located at 1151 Tower Boulevard Lake Wales, Florida. This beautiful 250-acre botanical garden and bird sanctuary is a must to see when traveling in the Central Florida area. The crowning feature of the gardens is the 205 foot neo-Gothic and art deco Singing Tower carillon, a national historical landmark designed by famed architect Milton B. Medary and ornately crafted by noted stone sculptor Lee Lawrie. The singing tower is located on Iron Mountain which is about 295 feet above sea level making it one of the highest peninsular points in Florida. Construction of the tower began in 1927, taking almost two years for completion. The carillon house 60 bells that perform daily at 1 PM and 3 PM.
It was a beautiful warm day, perfect for enjoying the many beautiful plants and lush growth in the gardens. We visited the Exhibit Hall and Museum as well as the mansion built by C. Austin Buck , vice president of Bethlehem Steel Company in Pennsylvania. The 22 room mansion sits on an 8-acre parcel of land known as the Pinewood Estates within the gardens. It was built between 1930 and 1932 as a winter home for the Buck family. The Bok Tower Garden Friends had decorated the mansion for the holiday season. It was spectacular to say the least!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2012
Land of Oranges
December 16, 2011
Garden Gnome
©2006-2012
Marshland Near Our Vacation Home
December 13, 2011
Florida really is a pretty state! There is an amazing abundance of waterfowl to enjoy that attracted by the many ponds, marshlands and larger bodies of water. We had to go to the post office shortly after arriving at our vacation home. When we finished, instead of taking the city streets back home, we found a little, meandering road that followed the water's edge from where we connected about a block from the post office to where we connected back up with the main highway. It was a gorgeous, scenic and relaxing drive! There were pockets of marshland between the water's edge and the larger body of water so we had ample opportunity to take a few pictures of waterfowl. On the other side of the road where heritage homes although they may not have had the actual designation. They were quaint, unpretentious and full of character!
Getting off the beaten track has always been important to us. It is the only way to see some of the more interesting sights regardless of where you are visiting. It is also a wonder break from the hustle and bustle of urban areas but even in urban areas a bit of exploring can easily yield a plethora of amazing sightseeing opportunities. It is surprising what gorgeous little pockets of wonder are tucked into urban areas!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2012
Redneck Wine Glass
August 28, 2011
We spotted a redneck wine glass in the country store in Lexington, Michigan during our recent visit. My husband wanted to buy it but I said no at $14.99. It is cute but easily made from a mason jar and glass candlestick holder from the dollar store. In told, it would cost about $1.50 to make and I do have an abundant supply of mason jars. I might make a few for gift giving :)
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Fireworks Over Niagara Falls
July 31, 2011
During the summer months there are
firework displays on Saturdays and Sundays courtesy of the Niagara Park Commission in addition to the regular Falls illumination turning the park into a magical wonderland. There are free concerts in the park before the fireworks. Folks brings blankets to sit on the grass to enjoy the music and fireworks. It is a delighful way to spend a summer evening!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Margarittaville, Niagara Falls, Ontario
July 31, 2011
Niagara Falls is just as busy if not busier once the night life begins. We walked around during the evening stopping at a couple of outdoor patios. Then we strolled down Fallsview Ave to enjoy the free fireworks shown on Friday nights and holidays throughout the summer months. It was a hot, balmy night yet quite pleasant with the occasional cooler breeze and mist from the falls. Pictured is Jimmy Buffet's Margarittaville on the corner of Murray Street and Fallview Ave. We had stopped there for lunch planning to stop by again in the evening but it was full so we mosied along enjoying people watching as well as the sights and sounds. It was a lovely way to spend the evening!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Horseshoe Falls, Ontario Canada
July 31, 2011
During our recent visit to Niagara Falls we enjoyed spending time on the Skylon observation tower deck. The Skylon offers the highest view of the falls and a spectacular three hundred and sixty degree radius of the surrounding landscape. It is well worth going up the tower! Pictured is the Horseshoe Falls with the Maid of the Mist nearing the Falls.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls
July 31, 2011
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls, Ontario
July 31, 2011
My husband and I met up with one of our friend's and his daughter in Niagara Falls (Ontario) on the Civic Holiday weekend. Niagara Falls is one of our favourite annual short vacation spots. We ususally spendthree days and two nights depending when we visit. My husband arranged for tickets to ascend the Skylon Tower, an excellent way to get amazing pictures of the falls. I post a few more pictures of the view from the Skylon Tower over the next couple of days.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
This was the long holiday weekend celebrating the Civic Holiday in Canada. We spend Saturday at the kids will most of the kids meeting there for a feastive summer barbeque on a beautiful summer day. The grandkids had a wonderful time! We spent the night at the kids then traveled to Niagara Falls the following day to meet up with one of our friends and his little one. We went up the Skylon Tower (pictures to come) and saw the movie at the iMax theatre. Last night was perfect for walking down to the Falls to enjoy the fireworks over the falls. My gosh, walking back up that hill was a chore! Then we did a bit of a pub crawl after enjoying a tasty Italian meal. It was a relatively early night with a fairly early start towards home. We took a lot of pictures so I will be sharing those once I've worked my way through the Florida spring vacation pictures.
My husband and I are celebrating a special milestone so stopped in Brampton at the casino for a couple of hours. It was a nice diversion but over stimulating with all the stress as well as recently being in Las Vegas. He lost a bit and I came ahead. We stopped for a quick bite to eat then made the final stretch home.
We are tired and the stress from the house is still wearing heavily on both of us. I'm beyond stressed! It was wonderful to be away for a couple of days. We are signing one offer tomorrow so at least we have one offer. It will remain as a first with a 48 hour clause for the buyer to remove all conditions should we choose to accept a better offer. The good news is we are showing the house again on Wednesday so perhaps that will be the better offer we are hoping for. At least now with this offer we have a tentative moving date.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Woody Topiary
May 19, 2011
One of our granchildren absolutely loves Woody from Toy Story. I was excited to get a picture of this wonderful Woody topiary at Epcot in Walt Disney World, Orlando. I could not wait to get back to our vacation home to upload the pictures from my camera to send the little one a special message from Grandma and Papa. Disney World does such a lovey job on the toparieies. I absolutely love them as well as appreciate the multitude of hours that it takes to create and maintain these toparies. The are simply gorgeious!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Welcome to Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida
May 19, 2011
A couple of our kids and spouses are huge Disney fans. We were blessed with one of the couples visiting us during our recent spring vacation. They spent a few days with us which was really nice as we don't get a chance to see them as often as we would like. They live the furthest from us at about a ten hour drive from us. Weather conditions October through March makes driving rather touch and go. We had seen them on the tail end of our winter vacation the first week of January. We were so excited to see them again in May!
This couple is about the biggest Disney World fans you have ever met. They visit Disney World a couple of times a year. They know how to get all the discounts and the best attractions to visit. They know where the best places to eat. We spent an entire day at Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It was wonderful event filled day! My gosh we had such a good time! We can't wait to do it again. Over the next few days I will be sharing some of the pictures from that great day.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Pugs on Fremont Street, Las Vegas
May 13, 2011
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
City of Las Vegas First Hospital Historical Plaque
May 12, 2011
On May 15, 1905 Las Vegas was established although the area was inhabited well before that. The first 'hospital' was an 8-foot by 10-foot tent at Stewart Avenue and Third Street erected for the railroad workers in 1904. The first doctor (chief surgeon) was Dr. Royce (Roy) Martin, Las Vegas & Tonopah Railroad. A second tent was errected at Eighth Street and Ogden Avenue. The first doctor at that tent hospital was Dr. Halle Hewertson, the surgeon for the San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad. The doctors worked together providing medical care for the railroad workers.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas
May 12, 2011
Las Vegas is the city of lights, glitter and glitz! Driving along Las Vegas Boulevard is stunning at night. We have only seen the strip dark once, in memory of Frank Sinatra. Other than that, the lights are always lit at night. Pictured is the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas. Isn't it impressive?
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
Looking Down on the Hoover Dam Bypass
May 11, 2011
Driving through the Mojave Desert is a stark contrast to Las Vegas. It is an absolutely gorgeous drive that brings you out of all the glitz and glitter of Las Vegas, a vivid reminder that this is a desert. It is easy to view the desert as barren land but it really is buzzing with a variety of wildlife. The flora and fauna varies depending on the smaller ecosystems within the Mojave Desert. It really is some of the most amazing natural eye candy!
We explored a bit the day we visited the Hoover Dam. My husband was entranced by the new Hoover Dam bypass. So we went off the beaten track to get pictures looking down on the bypass as it snakes through the desert landscape (pictured). Mind you we were not in a four wheel drive vehicle and my gosh the dirt road we took had a few scary points but we did get those pictures. It was well worth it!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2011
