Thursday, July 30, 2015

Libraries


I could spend hours and hours in the library and never get bored.  
My favorite libraries are Presidential ones, but that is for another post.

Last Sunday I went with some writer friends to tour the Minneapolis Central Library.  The five of us are kindred spirits.  We knew that we could spend all the time we wanted, and not one of us would sport "the look."  You know the one.  The  How long are you going to be  look!

 The docent spent lots of time guiding us through each floor of the library.  I live about 45 minutes from this library, and never had so much as stepped into it before!  Shameful I know!  

My friend Julie wrote a blog about the day.   Click on the site to learn more.  

http://inspiredbylifeandfiction.com/five-writers-walk-into-a-library/

Which libraries have you toured?

Monday, July 27, 2015

A wedding to remember

Once upon a time...

The fairy tale began July 29, 1981.

750 million TV viewers watched as the couple  said "I do."  I most certainly was one of them.  There were just as many spectators watching from England as the carriage rode past.

She wore that  famous  dress that trailed a 25 foot train.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana wed in St Paul's Cathedral.
A highlight for me was  to walk into the cathedral where they said their vows.

What a life Princess Diana must have led.
She grew up here at Althorp.
She married her prince at 20 years old.  It truly looked like the fairy tale would last forever.
With all that pomp and circumstance, why wouldn't  we all think it would last?  It all looked so perfect.  The carriage ride, the dress, the prince.  Real life fairy tale stuff.

I still believe in the power of love.  And no matter how crazy it sounds, I still believe in fairy tales and love conquers all,  and those wedding vows to"love and to cherish til death do us part."

How about you?  Did you watch the Royal Wedding?





Thursday, July 23, 2015

Step off the asphalt

     Remember the commercial about the guys TRYING to get their phones out of network reach?
Climbing a  mountain, each were  frustrated because they still had coverage.   They had to travel a long way to get their phones out of range.  It took awhile, but they succeeded.

     It took quite a  few miles in our van, but eventually our phone stopped working too.

     I heard a great line from a man we met on our travels last week.  He said, "You need to step off the asphalt."  Isn't that great!  This coming from a man who has done some pretty crazy things in his 63 years of life.  He was a sparkle on one of our stops during our holiday last week.

     That line stuck with me the entire time we were away.

     It is much too easy to look down at our phones, and miss the things that are right in front of us.

     Come along with me on a quick photo tour  of some views we didn't miss!
     This is a lodge we stayed at one night in Montana.  We were greeted by the most kind people.  We heard stories of grizzly bears that wanted to make their presence known by plodding their way right up to the front door!  Thankfully, it wasn't the night we stayed there!
     Ever had the view from the top of a horse?  I got the docile one!  Yay for me!
     Sometimes there is just no other way to see the views in the woods.  You have to get on the horse and go for a ride!
     I wonder how hot that is?  
     Traveling on a dirt road for 6 miles gets you this view.
     The tram in Jackson Hole Wyoming takes you to the top of the world!  It's cold up there, but there are rewards.
     Like for instance, WAFFLES!  Yep...waffles!  Who knew!  I have to say that they were some of the best waffles I have ever had!  Maybe it was just because I was cold.  Then again, maybe not.  We had the lemon ones with LOTS and LOTS of whipped cream!  YUM.  Just YUM!!
     You can't beat the wild life views.
     They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  I'm thinking that may be true after gazing upon this gorgeous sunrise.
     Its good to be alive.  Amen.
     Hope you enjoy your views today.



Thursday, July 9, 2015

The WOW factor

How many National Parks have you visited in America?

I have been spending WAY too much time reminiscing about our trips to this great nation's National Parks.
We took our kids on a two week adventure back in 2005.  Many of the Parks made their way into our memory bank.
This is a page in my scrapbook.  Pictures just don't show the majesty of such a place.  We are at Bryce Canyon's Amphitheater in this photo.  It's indescribable.  All the parks are.  Just try to find a favorite photo.  Better yet...a favorite park.

Each one has its own uniqueness.

Inspiration Point in Bryce Canyon will truly inspire you.

It really is possible to be two places at once.  How many can say they have straddled the Continental Divide in Rocky Mountain National Park?  Ohhh Ohhhh...pick me, pick me!

Landscape Arch in Arches National Park oohed and aahed many hikers, including us!

Capital Reef had petroglyphs.  What are those you ask?  Art.  Drawings carved in stone that will last longer than you and me.   We also saw Navajo Dome.  My kids said, "it looks like a hershey's kiss."  I'm thinking the hiking was making them hungry!

Zion was a trip!  Driving through the Mt Carmel tunnel was an adventure just in itself.  You gotta try it sometime!

My husband and I, along with 3 other friends walked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon a few years after this trip.  ALL THE WAY to the bottom?  Yep.  The WAY bottom.    We are now among the 1% of the world's population that has made it all the way down to the bottom of the canyon.  A true feat for sure.  I still can't believe we did that.

I have climbed the Beehive in Acadia National Park.
Hiked in Denali National Park.
My husband and son climbed Half Dome in Yosemite.  Now there's a beautiful place.  Can't miss the wonder of that park.

Yellowstone.
One park I haven't set  eyes on.  BUT, I am going to find out all the great things about Yellowstone in the upcoming week!  Eeeeeeekkkkkkk.....I CAN'T WAIT!!!  I am so excited.

I'll tell you all about it when I return.

Oh...one last thing.  Because I will be experiencing such great adventures in the wild, I won't have access, (or I guess I should be honest, I am making sure I don't have access) to internet!

So, I will see you back here July 23rd.  Hope you are having your own great adventures this summer.








 

Monday, July 6, 2015

Warrior queen

Have you ever heard of Queen Boudica?  Me neither!
I read about her this weekend.

Although named a queen, surprisingly there seems to be"no real proof she ever existed."  Hmmmm...
The information that is out there comes from classical authors Tacitus and Cassius Dio.  They wrote years and years "after the alleged battles" between the Queen and the Romans.  Information about her comes from "limited and circumstantial archaeological evidence."

Boudica emerges in AD 60 after her husband, who happened to be the leader of the Iceni, died.  Upon his death, half of his riches went to The Romans, and half to his two daughters.  

There's that saying, "money is the root of all evil." I'm thinking that was true in this case.  Things got ugly.  "Halfing" money probably wasn't a good thing to do!

The Iceni needed a ruler.  Enter Boudica.  She led many against the Romans.  Boudica fought, but in the end, many Britons were killed.

All that fighting makes me think of that saying  "There's nothing new under the sun." Not sure why nations find it necessary to fight, but all throughout history you will find it.  I learned a lot.

One author says Boudica "killed herself with poison."  The other states "she got sick and died."

Whatever happened, history makes for interesting reading.
I'll read anything that has anything to do with the history of the throne.  

Excerpts from Vanessa Collingridge Author of Boudica (Ebury 2006)  This author has quite an impressive resume.  She lives in England.  I would love to meet her one day!  

Read anything interesting lately?





 

Thursday, July 2, 2015

4th

I could go on for days about all that I have to be grateful.

Mostly, for the privilege to live in this great county.
I can move about freely, without fearing for my life at every turn.  Such brave souls in those far off countries dealing with terrorists on a daily basis.

I am just so blessed.

Happy 4th of July America.