Yesterday, a fellow blogger posted a recipe for Magnolia’s Iced Ginger Cookies here. I thought they sounded simple and yummy and decided to whip up a batch for the fam. Boy were they delicious! They were so good that the “Iced” part never happened. Oh well, maybe we’ll try that next time! Thanks for sharing Smidge!
Today, Greenville spoiled us yet once again with her charming self! We started out with an enjoyable breakfast with some great company at the Green Room and followed it up with a day of music, people watching, and lounging at Fall for Greenville. Greenville never fails to welcome you in and wrap you up in her presense!
Right now, I am loving brisk mornings, warm afternoons, pumpkins, and the aroma of apple and pumpkin in my house. Bring on the leaves and family gatherings!
Last weekend, the better half and I ventured to the coast for a little R&R. Busy work days and busy weekends make it hard to find “us” time, but we made time anyway and I must say it was well worth the wait. Beautiful weather, great food, and a little exercise thrown in was just what we needed.
So here’s to long weekend trips with one amazing dude! XO
Las Vegas… Sin City… Do I care to return? No! But grateful I had the opportunity to visit and to see the surrounding area! Las Vegas is like Disney for adults or Myrtle Beach in the desert, not my cup of tea, but I did manage to capture a few photos that shed the city in a favorable light.
Maybe I will return someday, but I will definitely bring some company and all that money I have to spare!!
So since gambling is not my thing and the bright lights got old, I chose to rent a car, drive about 20 miles west of Vegas and visit an incredibly beautiful part of our country in the Mojave Desert, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. In 1990, this 195,819 acre piece of land was designated an NCA to help fund and protect this area of Nevada. It is the 7th NCA in the nation.
A 13 mile scenic loop winds you through this expansive land while giving many opportunities for stopping and enjoying the scenery. Cyclists, hikers, and photographers alike soak in the surroundings and enjoy the changing view as the sun hides behind and then emerges from the clouds.
Plant life abounds in this area of very little rainfall and all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds have adapted to survive in this harsh environment. I was so excited to see wild burros sleeping and grazing in one of the canyons! And also very excited to not see any of the reptiles or amphibians that reside here!
The different rock formations created over the course of millions of years show the changes resulting from the rocks being part of the ocean, turning into swamps and then deserts, and finally to where the area is now, thrust faulting. Wind, rain, ice, and gravity combined their efforts and used these rock formations as their canvas to create one beautiful work of art that has taken millions of years to create. Lovely!
Though yesterday was hot and humid and still felt like summer, the sky told a story of days ahead. A blue, blue sky and white, white clouds hung overhead whispering of crisp fall days to come.
I love how the Hummingbird makes his hovering look effortless while his little wings are furiously flapping ! Catching one taking a rest is beautiful too! Oh the little things in life!
The sky was beautiful on this last night of August. With the second full moon of the month shining down, the trees and yards were blanketed in a soft peaceful light. Goodnight blue moon.
Today I realized just how easy it is to miss some pretty incredible things in our world when we don’t change our perspective from time to time.
Last weekend I took a solo hike to Rainbow Falls in Jones Gap State Park. I hiked two miles in and two miles out. It was full of water elements, moss, flowers, and rocks which were absolutely beautiful. I took my time photographing things near and far. I took the same hike in and out today with my husband and a couple of our friends again seeing the same incredible landscape and taking more photographs. But it wasn’t until our way back (my fourth time on this particular path in a week!) that the mushrooms appeared. Could it possibly be that we fell down a rabbit hole and into a lovely little wonderland of fungi?
I think not! I was just not paying attention! Well thank goodness for someone elses perspective because today a very curious new world was opened up to me!
The Crew
Sassafras Tree leaves! Taste and smell like Froot Loops!!! I swear!
Not the rabbit hole! Thank goodness!!
Pretty rainbow trout!
All I Need 