fast week

It felt like I went to bed 

Sunday night

and woke up

Saturday morning.

That kinda fast.

It all started when I bumped

into my brother

Tim

at the local grocery

and he began talking about 

the Snowy Owls

let me back up a bit to explain

that bird watching

is his newest passion

and he can't help himself

but every conversation

comes back to birds

I don't care if you're talking about

the fact that he has never

tried the

Starbucks at Kroger

gasp!

somehow it will remind him

of the Colombian cockatoo

or whatever...

it is so much fun to watch

and learn.
So
 when he invited
or did I
insinuate myself?
whatever!
to go on a hunt for
the Snowy Owl
before
they head north
I was all in
with James of course
so we could call it a field trip!

we saw the 

Horned Larks

American Kestrels

Red Tailed Hawks

Turkey Vultures

a critter or two

and there he is

the Snowy Owl

if you click on the pic

it will enlarge the image

good thing Tim was there

because I would have driven right on by

without noticing

it's like he has a

birdey (like Spidey) sense or something

and in a snap of his camera

he captured the moment

for James and myself

known as

a life bird

marking the first time

we viewed a Snowy Owl in his

natural habitat

so very cool

Thank you Tim for sharing

your passion

and those amazing pictures.

Then we got slammed

like the rest of the 

Midwest

by 

not just any snowstorm

but

I can't remember its name

maybe

Vulcan

or something

very scary like that!

sends shivers

up and down the spine.

But wait!

I skipped right over

field trip number 2

The Walk in the Garden

before 

Vulcan hit.

the sun was shining

people were out and about

in short sleeves no less!

beauty at 

every turn

there was a small sailboat race

planned

and I was able to capture

the colors of the sails

as they

danced on the breeze

then turning my camera

to sepia

I focused

my lens on the images

around me

yes

all the beautiful images...

he was a given

she was quite 

majestic

as well.

Ah yes

 it was a resplendent day

yet these are but mere photos

of the originals

as we walked

the Louvre's

Tuileries Garden

right here

in Toledo, Ohio

they allowed me to take 

these sans flash

Once I get started

it's hard to

reel me back in

which is why

Joe and James

were so very happy that

the museum

was about to close

I did manage a quick picture of

the Cloister

thanks to Sue and Mom

for joining us

next time 

we will make a full day of it

with lunch at 

The Beirut

and we will leave those brats

(I think its terrible when adults speak

of their kids in such a manner!)

at home!

Then scary storm Vulture hit

with a Level 3 shutdown

and cancellations of just about

everything

except

television watching!

Thank God!

Oh yeah,

throw in work

and a little girl turning 5

and

sister Mary coming into town...

like a whirlwind

I tell

ya.

Feeling a little breathless

as I sip my morning brew

and

peruse Isa'a cookbook

for my next

exotic food journey

from 

Milan to Minsk

(I know, I'm weird)

Leaving me dizzy

but then again,

depending on who you ask

that's the 

way I roll.

Enjoy your weekend

cuz i'm gonna!

:)