Scribble Picnic–Fairy

     I don’t often draw human (or "fairy"!) figures, but had to give it a try with this week’s Scribble Picnic theme.  I started with a couple of sketches as seen on the right below.  Our daughter-in-law chose a Tinker Bell theme for the nursery when our oldest granddaughter was born, so I switched to using the leftover material from making curtains for my fairy inspiration.  I debated staying with regular pencil, but decided T. Bell would be more recognizable in color.  (Note to self–get some quality colored pencils ordered!)  You can see the fairies others chose to draw by clicking on the links at this page.  I hated missing last week’s Lantern theme, but we took a trip to see some of the grandkids for a few days, then went on to spend several more days “touristing” in central and north central Oklahoma.  We quite often take a short trip of some kind in March, our anniversary month.  This year marks 34!

Look Close!

If you watch closely on My First YouTube Video, keeping focused toward the top of the screen at the front of the boat, you'll see the dolphins that were having fun racing with our day cruise catamaran for awhile (while we were visiting Alaska last summer.) It's very short, so if you don't see the dolphins the first time through, just replay!

Alaskan Wildlife, Part 2

These are some of my favorites of the wildlife we saw on our trip to Alaska last summer.

-Tufted Puffin-

: )

 -contemplative Sea Otter-

In Seward there were rabbits of all colors hopping around the residential area.  I happened to see this greedy one.  Or, maybe he was just really hungry. Or, maybe he was headed somewhere to share!

I never dreamed I'd have the opportunity to see whales in my life! I don't remember for certain, but I think this was a beluga.

-Moose!-
They are quite common in Alaska, with signs all along the roads advising caution and to be alert for them along the roads. This family actually lives in Benny's sister's neighborhood. She said the twins were two years old, and would stay with their mother one more year.  But, they were something I had really, really hoped to see while we were there, so I was sure grateful that they made an appearance right toward the end of our visit!

"All things bright and beautiful, 
All creatures great and small, 
All things wise and wonderful, 
The Lord God made them all."

Alaskan Wildlife

On our first day in Alaska (last summer), this eagle and a gorgeous blue sky welcomed us.

 -A lone Harbor Seal swimming up the Kenai Bay-

I named him Murphy!

Murphy stopped to smile for the camera!

-Some of the birds on Gull Island-

I think these are mostly Common Murres and some Pelagic Cormorants off to the right, but do you see the two Tufted Puffins?

 

 Papa Eagle watches over his family (that was in another tree) at Homer.

This was a cute squirrel, but he was really a thief after the contents of Laura's bird feeder!

 

-Steller Sea Lions slipping and sliding, and soaking up some sun in (I think) Resurrection Bay-

Seeing these animals and birds was great, but in part 2 of Alaska Wildlife, I'll show the ones that were my favorites!

Final Hint--a REALLY BIG one!

If you checked in on my previous post, http://joeks55.blogspot.com/2011/10/big-hint.html , or a few of posts ago, http://joeks55.blogspot.com/2011/09/some-questions-some-answers.html ,  then you know I've been leaving hints about where B and I went on vacation in August. 

This is the final hint.  I'd say that it's a REALLY BIG one.  (hint, hint)

Next time I'll reveal where we went.

Summer Summary-July

Fourth of July picnic

Annual quilt auction at the church camp where T worked this summer.

Two mama cats and seven kittens--who cares whose is whose?

B, M, and I went 650 feet straight down to tour
the underground salt museum at Hutchinson!
In addition to mining salt, it's used as a storage vault for old records from all kinds of businesses, as well as old films, and even props and costumes from movies.
If I remember correctly, it's a constant 68º there.

God's Creatures--Chipmunk

This is my favorite photo from our Colorado trip.

This little guy was sitting perfectly still along the road on our way down from Pike's Peak. We drove past him, stopped, I got out of the car, approached with camera and took a couple of shots, and STILL he didn't move. Obviously, he didn't want to stop the feast he was having, but finally he decided I was just a little too close and disappeared into the berry-laden bush that was supplying his snack. I hope he came back out to finish what I interrupted!

As Promised....

.....here are some pictures from the trip B and I took in August. Those of you who guessed Colorado as the destination are correct! But before getting there, we took some of T's belongings out to where she's going to school, then headed to the western counties of Kansas, where the deer and antelope play. Well, in this photo, just the antelope!
Then it was on to the small town, where I lived from almost age four, through the end of 6th grade. One of my best friends from growing up greeted us, fed us and went around visiting parents of some of my former classmates with us.
My other best friend was in Texas, but we stayed at her hunt club anyway!
I liked how the morning sun was shining on my hometown.
Fit in brief visits with a few more friends (including one classmate I had not seen since 6th grade!) Drove slowly around the town and past the house (now in sad shape) that we used to live in, all the while trying to keep up with the images and memories of those long gone years that were rushing around in my head!

Then it was on further west, to Colorado Springs, where we did the tourist thing!
Helen Hunt Falls
Posed with this guy while waiting for our tour of Cave of the Winds.
This is how the tourists used to explore the cave! Notice the smudges where they extinguished candles, after having learned candles don't mix so great with rope ladders!
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Seven Falls lit up at night,
and in the morning.
One section of the 224 steep steps to the top of the falls.
We hiked on out to Inspiration Point.
Enjoyed a nice dinner at this local restaurant.
B drove the long and winding road, sometimes paved, sometimes not, up Pikes Peak.
Quick, see the view, take the pictures. It's COLD up here, not to mention that I'm feeling a little light-headed! (It really was an awesome view!)
On the way down, saw one bit of wildlife, but will save that photo for its own post. :)

Saw the "North Pole",
but yep, it was Wednesday.
That's okay. We were ready to head home by then, which is exactly what we did!