Monday, April 30, 2012

Day 102...Homeward Bound

Day 102
Time to head home!
I can't wait to get home and begin to plan
our next weekend getaway!!!
On our way to Weaver's Country Store...So was the buggy!


A very quick stop in Sedalia to take a peek and see how the Eagles were doing.
This was Marks first glimpse of the Sedalia eEgles!
Not such a great pic but seeing them was a very nice part of my Monday!!!

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Day 101...Our Stay In Branson

Day 101
This morning started out foggy.
Standing at the end of the dock at the fishing village where we stayed!

fog just starting to clear...a little blue sky showing through
 view of our dock from the bluff at the College of the Ozarks... aka "Hard Work U"
 Swan on the little lake at the college!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Day 100...Dogwood Canyon and MORE

Day 100
We started our day out with a drive to Dogwood Canyon and took a scenic tram tour through the park. I'm really glad we took that tour but would love to go back and bike ride through it and/or walk. Although our tram driver was amazing, knowing where to slow down for photo opportunities etc., it's still hard to get just the right shot from a moving vehicle driving on a set path...
you just have to take what you can get.
Next time, I'll be on foot!!! Probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.
So, so beautiful!!!
I couldn't decide what photos to post so I'm sharing all my favorites! :)





 Our tour guide explained that nearly all the waterfalls in the park are man made.
This one above is one of two natural falls.
 This cave below was discovered while clearing out areas in the park for beautification!


Rainbow Trout







We crossed through the covered bridge as our tour began and
came back across the stream on the way back.

 After leaving Dogwood Canyon we headed to our Zipline location!
This is the fourth and final tower that we zip lined from this afternoon!
The funnest thing I've ever done! It beats any amusement park ride, for sure! WOW!!!

♪...Splish Splash I was takin' a bath, long about a Saturday night...♪
This duck decided it was bath/shower time and landed in the fountain at Branson Landing Shopping area while we were standing there people watching!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Days 99...Weekend Getaway Begins

Day 99
Friday, April 27, 2012
Happy Birthday, Mark...I love you! :)
On our way to Branson! We wondered if we were in for a rainy weekend but we lucked out!
It didn't rain till the morning we left for home!
 Car Ride There












Thursday, April 26, 2012

Day 98...Peonies

Day 98
Some say "pee-oh-knees and some say "pee-uh-knees"
Me, I say "pee-oh-knees"
Either way, they're so pretty, but short lived.
Something this pretty should last longer!! They smell wonderful! You have to bring them in to really enjoy that! Just shake them off good outside and give them a quick cool rinse to get rid of the ants!!! Although, they wouldn't bloom without the ants! I didn't know that for a long time!
Like many other plants, they're flowering nearly a month earlier than usual. I've even heard them referred to as "Decoration Day" flowers because they're usually blooming right about Memorial Day.


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Day 97...Work :)

Day 97
Creating beauty...:)
My home away from home...some of my work family!
This one's kind of a "Where's Waldo/Gayle"
I see me!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Day 96...Brilliant Barberry

Day 96
Barberry's can be a booger when it comes time to prune. It has thorns and they do hurt!!! But I love how pretty it looks when the sun is shining through the red tips of the shrub. It really is beautiful! And...It actually looks prettier when I don't prune for a season!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Day 95...Beautiful Spiderwort

Day 95
My first little flower to bloom on the Spiderwort!
Sometimes, they just have really odd names, don't they?
What a pretty flower with such an ugly name!
FYI, if you're into planting what's native to our region,
this is one to plant!!



Saturday, April 21, 2012

Day 93...Abby's Senior Prom

Day 93
Abby's Senior Prom
 The last prom updo that I'll ever do for one of my girls

the finishing touches to what is already perfection! :)

Friday, April 20, 2012

Day 92...Visit to Briarcliff


Day 92
 Mark was told by real "Easterners" that this place is the closet you can get to the "real deal" here in Kansas City...I'm not a huge fan of the Philly sandwich but, it was good!!
We decided we would go again!

 fountain up in Briarcliff

 city view from Briarcliff

Visited Mom this afternoon after work
the cement foundation is laid for the gazebo at Evergreen Community!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Day 91...Springtime Bargain

Day 91
The best deal anywhere for hanging baskets is at Sutherlands!!
You can't beat it! I use them around my yard in my own planters.
They're healthy, pretty, and the price is right!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Day 90...God's Promise... (and Kermit)

Day 90

I've been waiting to catch a rainbow shot and this morning I had my chance!
No words could describe it's beauty.
About 7:15ish this morning I exited the highway and took the time to catch these shots!
I ended up being ten minutes late for my MRI and who cares!!!
I failed miserably when I had a claustrophobic, panic attack like nothing I ever imagined.
I had to leave and reschedule for when I can be in a more "altered" state of mind!
(the Dr. has now called me in a scrip for Valium)
I'm such a wimp...:(
 BUT, after all that......
I'm REALLY glad I took the time to stop and capture this beautiful rainbow!
The bright spot of my morning!
God's Promise to Noah...Genesis 9:8-17



One of my ALL TIME favorite, feel good songs! :)

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Day 89...Winter Survivors

Day 89
It's kind of a shame that some of this needs to be pulled up
after surviving the winter months.
Another sign of the mild winter we had. 
But, at least for the carrots...Mark says they're going sometime soon!


I leave the vegetable gardening to my husband. He's the pro around here, not me!
I handle the flowers!
I think the Swiss Chard will be fine through this coming season and
I'm really looking forward to that.
Not only can it be eaten but it is beautiful in a vase. The stalks are wonderful bright shades of red, orange, yellow, purple and green. I used it late last Summer in clear glass vases to decorate the food tables at my sons wedding reception.
It was gorgeous and I got tons of compliments on it!

The Kale,...it's out of control and I really don't know if my husband will leave it or not.
  He just loves to watch things grow. It should've been pinched back before it flowered,
but that's what I like best, the flowers!!! :)


And once again, last but never least, is my sweet Meadow...
She can even make a weed look pretty...:)
in this case, it's the Kale flowers!




Monday, April 16, 2012

Day 88...Beautiful, Sweet Varieties :)

Day 88

As much time as I've spent trying to thin them out,
the amount of Lily-of-the-Valley that I have just keeps growing,
I think I'll give up!
Besides, they really are sweet little flowers
and that's important garden criteria around my yard
so I guess they stay!

Lily-of-the-Valley

 My favorite variety though is an "Alia Lillee"
This one definitely gets to stay! :)



Sunday, April 15, 2012

Day 87...More of Spring :)

Day 87
The Clematis growing up by my mailbox is thriving this year! A tree was removed a few months ago by the city which has allowed for the proper light to shine down and give it the strength it needed to really produce blooms...I see more buds on it than I've ever seen since we moved here six years ago!!!
I can't wait to see it in full bloom!

I also did a little creeping at a neighboring Gnome...:)

I love my "crazy planter"
I don't really know what they're called but that's what I call mine!
I was brave and planted flowers a couple of weeks before Easter and they're lookin' good!!




Saturday, April 14, 2012

Day 86...100 Years Ago Today

Day 86

100 years ago today, the Titanic struck an ice berg.
It took just a little over two hours before she sank in the wee morning hours
of April 15, 1912.
Like so many other people, I grew up hearing and learning about the Titanics tragic ending.
It's always been a story in time that's fascinated me.
Recently, my husband and I went to see the exhibit at Union Station.
I highly recommend going.
Absorbing the history brought to us by the exhibit is worth every penny.
There's no way to even imagine how it must've been but watching all the TV specials lately and seeing the exhibit leaves me with an even stronger, yet sadder fascination of the sinking.
Seeing what's been recovered is absolutely amazing.
 Leila Saks, survived.
She was on her way home to New York for her father, Andrew Saks' funeral.
He was a well known New York merchant and founder of Saks Department Store.