Gracious Women

I know we all feel unappreciated, dissatisfied, and obsolete at times...

But I just wanted you to know that without you, families would not be the same, and the light that exists in your home would be a little less bright because you're not there to make it shine.

This poem is for you, and it is one of my favorites.

The beauty of a Woman is not
  the clothes she wears,
The figure she carries, or the
  way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be
  seen from her eyes,
Because that is the doorway
  to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman
  is not a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is
  reflected in her soul.
It is caring that she lovingly gives,
  The passion that she shows.
The beauty of a woman
  with passing years-only grows.

This is my lovely Mother.
I miss her....

So, if you're ever feeling down, please remember....

Profiles

I was in the parking lot a few days ago, and an older lady pulled up beside me.  My head was turned, so I didn't see her for a few seconds.  She got out of her car and stood by my door.  I rolled down the window, and she said to me, "You have a very nice profile.  I was driving up and I noticed it."  I said to her, "aaahhh... that's sweet, thank you."  She said, "God bless you, dear."  I thought to myself, "What a precious lady."

These flowers fascinate me.  They look like a profile of birds.  They also, in a strange way, look like they have personalities. 

Speaking of birds....

I'm particularly fond of this bird.

Have a nice weekend.





In the Kitchen

We love good food. Who doesn't?? I am always on the lookout for quick, tasty, and healthy recipes to give my meals some variety. I decided to make crepes this week. This French treat is delicious and surprisingly easy to make. I used a recipe courtesy of Alton Brown from Food Network  (click on link for full recipe!) You can fill your crepes with whatever your heart desires - the options are endless.

For lunch or dinner, try chicken with spinach and artichoke hearts, or ground turkey or beef with sour cream and green onions for a Mexican twist. And don't forget the cheese! Cream cheese, Parmesan, Swiss (Emmental), or good ol' cheddar. If you are in the mood for dessert (as we usually are), try peanut butter and banana or strawberries and Nutella. For my fillings, I decided on ham and light brie with a touch of basil and oregano.

  

Bon Appétit!

Way Out West

We have always been drawn to the pioneer days. The way that the women and men handled struggles and overcame hardships is something to be admired. We have so much respect for the strength and fortitude of these brave individuals, so you can imagine how excited we were to learn of our town's Western Pioneer Days!   

Cowboys talking business over a drink in the saloon

Travel by Stage Coach

A reenactment of the town's first bank robbery

As we were walking down the street, we heard music coming from one of the shops. We went in a little closer, and we realized the song that was playing was the first song on our blog's playlist, Louis Armstrong's "When You're Smiling." We certainly were!

Frontier women LOVE their big hats!

"Behind every successful rancher

is a wife who works in town."

~ Old West Proverb ~

Gold prospectors came to the West by the thousands hoping to strike it rich!

Play us HOME boys!

"Worry is like a rockin' horse.

It's something to do that don't get you nowhere."

~ Old West Proverb ~

Open Doors

I believe that when one door closes...

Another door opens...

So, don't give up.

It just means that one journey is over, and another will begin.

There may be something beautiful waiting for you right around the corner.

Knowledge

Library ruins from Athens, Greece

Statue in Munich, Germany

"And what is as important as knowledge?" asked the mind.

"Caring and seeing with the heart," answered the soul.

A Safari to Remember

We have been wanting to visit the San Diego Safari Park for some time now, so on Sunday we decided to take on the African adventure! The atmosphere was so fun. Tribal music was playing with lush vegetation and exotic creatures around every corner.  

 

There are so many activities to choose from: an up-close caravan ride that gives you personal encounters with many animals, a zip-lining adventure, a Segway tour... you can even "roar and snore" in camping tents overnight if you so choose. 

 

Visiting the park made us all want to travel to Africa... maybe one day. 

Unfortunately, all the big cats were hiding, but we were able to visit a variety of wild animals.

The macaws welcomed us into their colorful home.

Our gorilla friend deep in thought...

"A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind." ~Morihei Ueshiba

Hugs and Kisses...

It's a Wonderful World

Welcome to our Blog. 
My daughters and I will be writing to you often, and sharing photographs that we've taken so you can view the world through our lens.  I think you'll enjoy many of the pictures because some were actually taken in far-away places that they have traveled to. 

Most of them, however, will be from our hometown in sunny California.  We hope to get to know you, and feel free to share your thoughts and creative ideas.

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stop and Smell the Roses



Goodbye for now.