Razzmatazlady

Category: Pictures

  • Earth Day

    Tibetan Prayer Flags in the Sonoran Desert

    Today is Earth Day. It’s a day to be as kind to the earth as we possibly can. On purpose.
    Of course, we should be as kind to the earth as we possibly can every day, but we usually aren’t.
    The closest that I get, probably, is that I am aware of when I’m not being kind to the earth and I have the decency to feel guilty. And I actually have made a few good habits that help.
    I took this photo of the prayer flags while we were housesitting in the Tucson area. Why do I have a picture of Tibetan Prayer Flags in this post? Well, here’s a bit of information about them from Wikipedia:
    Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom.
    There are five of them and they’re each a different color representing the five elements of the earth. Blue symbolizes the sky or space, White is the air or wind, Red (symbolizing fire), Green sympolizes water and Yellow is the color of the earth.

    Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all.
    What better symbol could there be for Earth Day. I think they’re just beautiful.

  • Spring Fever Pictures


    Nope, these aren’t new photos. I wish they were.

    These are pictures I took last year. They’re my inspiration to hang in there until spring really is here in all it’s blazing glory.

    Those are Blackeyed Susans in the first photo, a gorgeous Day Lily in the second and the third is one of the lush, velvety Peonies from one of three Peony bushes that we have.

    Jack is outside cleaning out my perennial bed, bless him. As he removes all the leaves that piled up there last fall, you can see the tiny green bits starting to peek through. I’ll take a shot of them when they’re actually big enough to be seen through the camera’s eye.

    I, meanwhile, am sticking to the computer. It’s just that I’m on a roll and I hate to quit. No earth-shattering news to report about earning my first “internet million”. Just plodding away learning new things and trying to apply them.

    I’ve decided, though, that I need to pace myself. Spending twelve hours a day on the computer is very likely going to land me in the looney-bin. There are those who would argue that the looney-bin has always been just a stone’s throw away from me, anyway, but I choose to think othewise.

    So here’s my plan:

    I will make a schedule (and keep it) for spending time on my internet “work”.

    I will post to my blog every day. Even if it’s just a picture or a blurb that I’m still evading the looney-bin or whatever. Every day. A pledge.

    I will take a nice, long walk every day (if it’s not raining or snowing or blowing like mad). Walking is something I really enjoy and it’s fabulous “thinking” time. And maybe I can drop a couple of pounds. Funny how I lost ten pounds and kept them off all winter. The minute we got home to “the frozen north” and were sequestered inside because of the weather, I started to pile it back on. There is just no justice.

    I will spend some time, every day, reading. I always read for awhile every night, anyway, but that’s my time for light reading like novels. I’ll spend another hour or so reading to learn.

    It’s almost noon and I started this a couple of hours ago. Had a hard time getting the photos to upload right. Never did get it to work so this’ll just have to do. In any case

  • Spring Has Sprung!

    Wren House in Cranberry Bush

    The snow is almost gone! Hallelujah! It was terribly windy, yesterday, but it was warm. I looked out the window in the morning and Jack’s vegetable garden was still covered with a layer of snow. By dinner time the snow was gone.

    The ice has started to go out on the lake – it’s melted along our beach and it looks soft and mushy beyond that. Funny about the ice going out…one day it’s there and the next it’s gone. A couple of idiots were snowmobiling on it on Sunday. But that’s an entirely different rant…for another time.

    This is a picture of the little wren house in a cranberry bush outside our kitchen window. We can also see it from the bathroom that’s near the kitchen. In fact, when the cranberry bush is all leafed out it pretty much hides the bathroom window. A perfect vantage point for all the comings and goings in the cranberry bush which, by the way, is huge. It’s really a small tree – probably ten feet tall.

    Anyway, every year a house wren builds a little nest in that wren house and we watch from the time she hops in with her first beakfull of straw until the babies are gone. If we’re outside and get a little to close for comfort she scolds us. Whenever I walk under the bush (it’s very tall) I always say, “Just passing through – not to worry.” Pretty cool.

    The past couple of years a robin also has constructed a nest in the branches above the wren house and that’s awesome because we can see the eggs after she lays them. After they hatch we watch them with their little beaks wide open waiting for their mama to bring them a nice juicy worm or bug or whatever it is they eat. Worms, I think.

    The little ones grow quickly. The mama (or papa) still sits on the nest to keep them warm. When the babies are almost as big as the mother, she pretty much has to cling to whatever part of the nest isn’t covered by the babies. It’s a kick.

    Last year, though, at some point after the robin laid her eggs I happened to walk past the cranberry bush and saw the little blue eggs smashed all over the ground. I was sure that a squirrel was the guilty party. Darned squirrels. Made me mad.

    My friend, Karen, (who is a walking encyclopedia when it comes to Mother Nature’s creatures) told me that sometimes a wren will destroy a robin’s nest. I don’t know why. Probably because the robin is vying for the same worms that the wren wants. I cannot believe that our cute little wrens with their sweet song would be that aggressive!

    I told Jack that it’s like the cranberry bush is a little village with discrimination – if you’re not a wren, you’re not welcome. I’m going to have to keep an eye on that wren, this year. Maybe the robin won’t come back. Or maybe they’ll live in harmony. Just like we humans do. Uh huh.

    I’ll keep you posted on the comings and goings in the cranberry bush.

  • I’m Squidooing Like Mad

    Today is supposed to be a beautiful warm day and the weatherman says it’s going to hit 54 degrees – woo hoo!! I’m thinkin’ positive! Soon as this snow melts, we’re outside. Still haven’t finished the organizing that I said we were going to do. I’d better get crackin’…today, for sure, I’ll accomplish something. What have I been up to?
    Well, I spent almost the entire weekend on the computer! I’m really into this stuff and I am working on another blog. Not ready for prime time, yet, however. Also, I’ve completed six Squidoo lenses and am working on a few more!

    Jack is going to leave me if I keep this up, though, I think. But this is all part of my search for that “niche” that I talked about a long time ago and if I’m not getting any younger! Gotta get my fifteen minutes of fame. So, hopefully he’ll be patient a little longer.

    I really am looking forward to getting out in the gardens, though. Two of my Squidoos are on gardening – one on lakescaping and one on rain gardens. It’ll be so good to get out there and get our hands dirty, again.

    There’s nothing quite like seeing those wildflowers and grasses go from little tiny things in the spring to full grown a couple of months later. Plus the perennial garden in the front is my baby. My friend Diane shared dozens of her perennials with me and it’s just beautiful now. Well, not this very minute, of course, because it’s covered with snow – ha! But it will be!

    By the way – if any of you get a wild hair to join Squidoo, would you please click the “create a lens” (or whatever it says) button from one of my lenses? That way, I’ll get credit!!

    O.K., I’m off to sort and organize. Well, I’ll have a cup of coffee and read the paper, first, and THEN I’ll sort and organize!

  • We’re Snug As A Bug In A Rug

    I think I’m coming to terms with the fact that spring is NOT here. It’s just around the corner, though. Word is that by Monday it’s going to be in the 60 degree range. Be interesting to see if that really happens.

    In any case, it’s toasty and warm in the house and we’re having fun planning the kitchen redo. The guy from Home Depot (who was scheduled to come out this morning to measure) called and cancelled. Our street hasn’t been plowed and Jack says he’s not going to clear the driveway…we’re not planning to go anywhere and it should all melt in a day or so. “Should” is the operative word, here.

    Remember my “dream job” aspirations? Well, I’m getting back on that. I’ve been having a great time with the Squidoo lenses (pages) and am learning a LOT! It’s fun and there’s a real possibility for some income if I play my cards right. I’m thinking about creating another blog, too. Maybe on WordPress instead of Blogger. I haven’t shelved the plans for a website, either. Really, you just have to stick with it – no matter what your goals are, don’t quit. It makes life so much more interesting.

    So that’s the scoop from here. Nothing too exciting but, hey, that’s life.

  • Mea Culpa

    O.K., I give up. Here’s a shot of the last piece of the famous German Chocolate Birthday Cake. And I want you to know that I took about a dozen pictures of it. This is the least fuzzy.

    On another note, it’s a balmy 33 degrees here, today, and it snowed again, last night! At this rate it’ll be June before the ice goes out on the lake. I’m wearing a turtleneck and a sweatshirt and my nose is cold. Grrrrrrr…..

  • Trivia and an Earth Hour Report

    First of all, I’d like to report that we had a terrific Earth Hour, last night. We didn’t have anyone over but I know of at least one couple (old friends of more than 30 years) who observed it at their own home. Jack and I lit some candles in the living room – it looked awesome. And we just sat and visited for an hour.

    We reminisced about our kids and our travels, mostly. We talked about all the places that we’ve lived and the friends that we made. It was a good time.

    The most important thing that happened, though, was that we’ve decided that we’ll have our own Earth Hour from time to time. Like sitting on a warm summer’s evening out on our porch with just a couple of candles and all the windows open. I can hardly wait!

    On a completely unrelated topic: Trivia

    Question: Do you know which of the continental US states extends farthest north?

    Answer: Minnesota. A small piece juts about thirty miles north of the rest of the state according to http://www.triviacafe.com/. I just happened to check out their website and it’s the Trivia Question of the Day.

    It’s called the Northwest Angle. We have good friends who own property up there and you have to drive into Canada in order to get over to the “Angle” as it’s called. That’s a picture of it from the air that I copied from a website. http://www.lakeofthewoodsresorts.com/index.html. Pretty cool.
    Here’s another good Trivia question:
    Question: In 1908 the Wright Brothers tried to sell their invention, the airplane, to which organization?
    Answer: The U.S. Military. I think that’s hilarious!
    Well, I’m off with a cup of coffee and my kitchen redesign magazines. Once we get going on this I’ll post some pictures. Could be awhile.

  • Earth Hour

    You have probably noticed that the Google homepage is black, today. No, they’re not in mourning…it’s to show their support for Earth Hour.
    Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 with more than two million businesses (including the world famous Sydney Opera House) and households turning off their lights for one hour at 8:00 p.m. It’s an attempt to draw attention to climate change. “If the greenhouse reduction achieved in the Sydney CBD during Earth Hour was sustained for a year, it would be equivalent to taking 48,616 cars off the road for a year.”

    This year Earth Hour goes global. Denver, Honolulu, Chicago, Atlanta, San Francisco, Toronto, Montreal, Copenhagen, Dublin, Tel Aviv, and, of course, Sydney, among others are participating.

    I’ve got my alarm set for 8:00 p.m. I really want to do this but (you know me) if I don’t set my alarm, I’ll probably forget. That’s the “scatterbrain” in me. Good intentions but I need a kick to keep me focused!

    So light some candles, have a glass of wine or a cup of coffee or a beer, relax and enjoy the peace and quiet for one hour. Get the kids involved. They’ll love it! Invite some friends. That’s what we’re going to do. One hour.

    Please visit http://www7.earthhourus.org/ to learn more.

    This link will take you to a page where you can sign up. http://www2.earthhourus.org/signup/ Then spread the word. C’mon, it’s the least we can do. You’ll be glad you did.

    I’ve also noted it on my Squidoo lens with a link to the video. So you can click on this link, if you like. http://www.squidoo.com/QuestForAGreenerLife

    Pass the word. Every little thing we do helps.

  • A Picture Post

    It’s 6:30 a.m. and I’ve been up since about 5:00. It’s 17 degrees outside. That’s cold. I just went outside, though, to get the morning newspaper and there’s no wind so it’s tolerable.

    I was looking at some of the photos I’ve taken during our travels and have decided to post a few that I really like. Just for fun. So here goes…

    The first three I took a couple of years ago during a visit to Northern California – wine country – Sonoma County, to be exact. The flower pots were at the Korbel Winery. The next is a view of San Francisco from Sausalito. The third photo I took driving through the Russian River Valley. It is so gorgeous there. If I could live anywhere in the world and money was no object, I would choose Northern California. I really would.

    The next four shots are from Arizona. The doorknocker is on the door of a house in the Tucson desert and the butterfly photo I took at the Arizona Desert Museum. What a great place to visit. I love the desert.

    The Indian sculpture is in the town of Sedona and the cool terra cotta lady is on the patio at Michael’s house in Mesa.

    The last picture is from my own perennial garden. A pretty daylily. I can hardly wait until it’s nice enough to be outside in the gardens. Jack, especially, is eager to get his hands dirty. He’s outside from dawn until dusk every summer.

    Doesn’t seem like summer will ever get here. It will, though. Gotta be patient.






  • The First Day of Spring At Lake Mary

    We are back at Lake Mary after a fun-filled (although, as you well know, not without incident) winter. I’m feeling quite ambivalant, truth be known.

    We came home early because I came down with a bug of some sort over the weekend in Kansas. Sore throat, headache, chills. Not the sort of thing a person wants to pass on to anyone. So we piled ourselves in the reliable old Bronco and headed for the frozen North. Little did we know what we were in for…

    On the one hand it’s nice to be in my own little nest. All my own things. Cooking in my own kitchen with my own pots, pans, utensils, spices and herbs, etc.

    On the other hand, this is not what the first day of spring is like in California or Arizona or any of the other spots we visited these past few months. I took this snowy picture (and, yes, this is in color) of the beach this morning from our snow covered deck. It’s approximately the same shot as the sunset picture of Lake Mary that defines this blog.

    Believe it or not, we’ve got several inches of new snow since just this morning and it’s STILL SNOWING! The good news is that it’s all supposed to be melted by the first of the week.

    Um, I’ll let you know how that goes.

    Still, it’s good to be home. I think…