Pathways

whimsical creations

Someone at the gardens has a great sense of whimsy. No ordinary scarecrow for the people at this garden, I just loved this fashionable stickcrow.



At the top of a hill, overlooking a beautiful pond was this house with a mother and daughter enjoying the view.

There was even a potted plant by the window inside the house

G Rated Zebra Pictures

When I went on safari in 2001 I got my share of pictures of zebras. On occasion I would capture one that showed the zebra was all male. (I believe my friend Barbara DeJ will remember this along with my photo of a self pleasing chimp) As we went to take photos here once again I was facing a very well endowed zebra, what's a modest women to do? Get head shots LOL

Camel love

The camels were very friendly. I was a little anxious about getting too close to them, remembering my camel Max at the pyramids of Egypt- He was a spitter. But these camels had no expectoration issues.

I even let them get close

Alyse had fun getting some close ups

Garden Gates

In one area of the gardens there were a few beautiful iron gates.


This gate led to an aviary

I loved this peacock gate. It also led towards the aviary from another direction.

Out Buildings

Even the out buildings at the gardens are beautiful. The Hay silo was a stone building with windows.



The Green house was also attached to a beautiful stone building

A Crested Crane Wannabe

The Real Thing

I saw some Crested Cranes when I was in Africa in 2001 but was not as close to them as I was to this guy. He was quite the dancer and jumped around quite a bit, I was not sure that I would get a good shot of him. I love my digital camera where I can change the ilm speed to adapt to the situation

The Towers

I think this is an albino Wallaby- Sort of looked like a big rat to me, especially if you saw it's tail

I am not too sure what type of deer this is. I have been searching to no avail

Heading out at dusk- what a beautiful place. I just cannot imagine what it would be like to live somwhere like this.

Where the Heck is Namibia???

That is one of the most common questions I hear when I answer people's question to me of where I am planning to go next. Yes, I have a new dream..this time to go on a companion mission trip to Namibia (which for those of you who join in asking that question- it is on the south western part of the African Continent.) The ELCA NJ Synod is putting together a trip to visit some churches in Namibia in June 2008 and I am hoping to join them. I have not been to this part of Africa before and hope to learn more about it and the people that live there- firsthand. and Botswana is right next door- I wonder if I can do a side trip and try to find Prescious Ramotswe of the First Ladies Detective Agency? And can I find someone to drink bush tea with in the afternoon as we sit and quietly solve all the problems in the world? Yes, these are the things I contemplate late into the evening hours.

I ask that any of my friends who read this and are willing to pray that God will bless this mission and that He will lead me and the pastor leading this trip to discern if this is my next call. Thanks

Jay makes the show

Jay got back on Sunday from his week in Florida/Daytona Biketoberfest. He had a great time and even made a cameo appearance on the big time Florida news program. You can see him on the video clip from the link below. He follows the people watching woman with the big hair- And please, when you see him in person, mention that you noticed he didn't have his helmet on

http://www.local6.com/video/14371558/index.html?taf=orlpn

Reagan Update

This arrived in the mail today... The latest shot of little Reagan. He continues to grow and do well. He now ways a whopping 5lbs, 9oz!! Thank you for your prayers and please keep them coming, Marylou is hoping to have him home within the month.

Some old treasures

I was cropping with two friends today and I was not very organized so I started going through some boxes I had sitting around. I found so many great things I had put aside.. some notes from my kids when they were younger, and some great photographs. Here are 2 that I scanned one much older than the other...


These are my great grandparents in Germany. My dad visited them when he was around 5 or 6. His grandmother was tiny... she was as tall as his 10 year old cousin. His grandfather liked to drink something called Kirsch (I think that is the way it is spelled) that was clear like water but a lot stronger. My dad remembers his older brother, my Uncle Henny, bringing their grandfather his "kirsch" for the evening only he had substituted it with water. My great grandfather was quite surprised and took off after my uncle... good thing he was a fast runner.

This is me and my sister Lois during a snow storm. I just love this photograph, we were way too cute.

My Expressive Home

I just got my first order of Uppercase Living Expressions from the UPS man yesterday. Boy oh Boy am I in trouble. I want to cover my home in words. Thankfully I have lots of walls to use and so here is just the start. In my art/crop room I have a wall to hang some of my favorite photographs that I have taken. A while ago I read a quote of Ansel Adams and knew I wanted to use it on this wall.

Words to Inspire

In my crop room I want to put words to encourage me in my art. So far I have chosen just 3- Dream, Imagine, and Create, but I hope to add more as time goes on.

The Bathroom

In the bathroom up in my art room I have hung some photographs of flowers I have taken. Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote just had to go in there.