Bringing Back Friday Fotos

Photo by Designecologist: https://www.pexels.com/photo/image-of-river-on-smartphone-1398339/

I decided it's time for me to revive my "Friday Fotos". It's a way for me to find the beauty in my everyday life and share it on Fridays. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep this up, at least for a while. This post is a short one!

Gurl Dogg rarely gives me cuddles. The other day she crawled onto my lap and laid her head on my shoulder. 

I popped into the church and noticed the light produced a shadow of the cross behind the crucifix. 

During a walk, I noticed a branch fell and landed sideways with other branches holding it in place. Interesting.

If you read "An Opinionated Hodgepodge", you've already seen this picture. YS put some bird seed on the window ledge in my office so I could enjoy the birds up close & personal. This titmouse seemed interested in what I was doing before he grabbed a snack.

I took this as a sign of how safe the Small Town is. I noticed this child's bike the day before I snapped this photo. It was in the same place the next day. Gurl Dogg is checking it out.

What interesting and/or beautiful things did you see in your world this week? Notice the world around you and take a photo each day of something beautiful. 

The Great Adventure 2019: The Ovens Natural Park

 
I'm not sure where CH heard about The Ovens but this was one stop he definitely wanted to make. We spent 2 nights in the park. It was a nice break from trying to see everything. We relaxed, took a hike, and enjoyed ourselves as our time in Canada was rapidly coming to a close.

The Ovens is owned by the Chapin Family. If you remember the song "Cat's in the Cradle", you'll know who Harry Chapin is. That is just part of the history, though. "The Ovens" are actually the sea caves that can be found as you hike the sea cliff trail. They just aren't the kind you can walk in like the ones in New Brunswick.

There is a legend that a M'kmaq Indian paddled into one of the caves and came out 90 miles on the other side of the province. The real history is the Gold Rush of 1861. Sitting on this property was a town of over a thousand miners. Bank, hotels, and stores were in this town. Sadly, the town only lasted 6 years. There is a small museum on site. 

We hoped that our campsite would be right on the cliff, but we had to settle for being right across the road from it. Still, it wasn't a bad spot.

If I remember correctly, there was a water spout not far from our spot, but the campsites did not have electricity. We had a couple of fantastic nights' sleep, and the view when we woke up wasn't too shabby:

Something funny that happened: when we first arrived, I saw what I thought were a couple of people sitting in chairs on an isthmus:

See what I mean? Doesn't that look like 2 people sitting in chairs? Well, as soon as I had the chance I walked over because those people hadn't moved in a long time. This is what it actually was:

At least I provided CH with some comic relief! 

We opted to take the easy way out while we were there and take advantage of the diner that is in the campground. There was music playing (thanks to the Chapin family!) and the food was pretty good.

Overall, the campground was a little rugged. I have no idea what the shower places look like because I decided to really rough it and go without the full day we were there. I will say that the outside didn't look very welcoming! The toilets reminded me of the ones in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park...you know, the ones that don't flush? Yep, those are the ones that were there. Someone left the door open at night & I was a little concerned I was going to surprise some critter. Luckily that didn't happen!

Once again, the beauty of Canada just astounded me. The rocks weathered by the sea were captivating.

We only had one more stop in Canada. 2 more nights and then we would be heading back to East Tennessee. 

       

{Friday Foto Friends} Amazing Nature

I'm linking up with Deb at Breathing in Grace for another Friday Foto Friends. 

I'm proud of not killing this plant over the last 4 years I've had it!

My hibiscus bloomed for the first time since I put it outside. It blooms in the winter when I have it inside, but didn't bloom last summer at all. Not once, but about a week after I brought it in when the weather started getting cooler, it bloomed. Go figure.

Flowers from 1 of my Daddy's gardens.

I've been taking Laika & "Gurl Dogg" down to my parents' in the evenings to give them a chance to get out some of their energy. I walk around the yard, looking at what's blooming, and reminiscing.

Never in my life!

I have never seen a squirrel with a white tail! The picture is a little blurry...I didn't have time to grab my big girl camera and I zoomed in to get this guy. I've seen white squirrels in Brevard, NC, but nothing like this!

Rainbow on the 4th

My brother and SIL almost always host a family gathering at their house on the 4th. We had some clouds, rain, and sun, which was perfect for a rainbow. This picture doesn't do it justice: the colors were so vivid. It was just beautiful.

Beginning of rainbow

This was the first rainbow that I've seen the beginning of it. If you look closely under the arrow, you can just make out all of the colors.

Jose has a new home

My daddy made this; it used to sit on their back porch. My brother had the perfect spot for it next to his pool. Some of the blades were missing (and my brother thought he lost them) so he used an old license plate and made blades for him. This was the first 4th without my daddy; we had a good time, but I definitely felt like something was missing.

She has found a safe place!

Did you really think I was going to get through a FFF post without a puppy picture? 😀 Gurl Dogg found her "safe place": under our bed. She stayed under there when fireworks were going off (even though it's illegal in the Small Town).

Irresistible!

Last puppy picture...for now! Who could resist that face? I just love when she comes up to me and rests her little head on the couch. Such a sweetie!

Tuesdays Unwrapped

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under 
    trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water,
    or watching the clouds float across the sky is by no means
    a waste of time.  

- J. Lubbuck

Yesterday, I heard the silence.    I heard the birds, and I listened to the wind blowing softly.  The humidity was down, and the temperature was a very nice 83 degrees.  I sat outside for a good part of the day, enjoying the weather and the sounds, reading a book, and dozing off every now and then.  I heard kids playing in the distance, taking me back to that same neighborhood, many years ago.  Some things never change!

Over the weekend, I spent time on the back porch watching a mama robin with her two young offspring.  She grabbed a worm, then took it to the chirping offspring.  Then, mama hopped around the yard, with her 2 offspring hopping behind her.  I had never witnessed such a sight before.  I could tell the other 2 robins were young, because they still had some white downy feathers on their chests.  Husband said that maybe one of those offspring was the bird that I almost stepped on.     

 I would like to think so, but it's highly doubtful.  Most likely they were siblings.  

Even with traffic going by, Air Force jets in the sky, and the hum of the air conditioner, I was able to just enjoy the sounds of nature.  My flowers are still blooming (I haven't killed off any of them yet!) giving the butterflies and bees a table on which to dine.  A butterfly landed on my shirt and stayed there for a couple of minutes, right next to my heart.  By the time Youngest Son went in to get my camera, its rest was over and it flew away.  I may have had a butterfly land on me before, but never for that period of time.

Although I'm not real sure why God created weeds (except maybe for us to learn patience!), I'm amazed at this wonderful earth he gave us.

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”

-Ashley Smith