Let your mind wander back in time and imagine the designs on the platters and bowls imported from China that would be revealed as the last of the mashed potatoes were finished.
Category: #FindYourHappyPlace
Do you ever wonder what to wear?
If you’re struggling to decide what to wear in the morning, maybe this will help!
Hi Moon!
12/21/17 the southern sky bid goodbye to the Sun. Why does the real cold hit when the sun turns North?
A trip to the zoo!
Irresistable items to buy of course!
Design to enjoy!
Native wood ducks are incredible!
Beaver in autumn leaves!
Zoo plantings are wonderful! 
These two pelicans are preparing for spring! There is always something exciting going on at the zoo!
Shadow sings a sun song!
My shadow sings the sun’s song!
My back hopes each verse is long!
Make a wish!
Is there anything more magical than a dandelion seed head? Make a wish and blow! Fireworks turn into umbrellas and next spring your golden wishes will pop up, spreading sunshine everywhere!
Put ’em together and what have you got?
We wandered through the amazingly lovely Kenilworth Gardens in DC to see ponds full of 7′ tall lotuses in full bloom. July 4 is the height of their annual water lotus and water lily display. Gates open at 8:30 AM. Best to be there early!
Then we stopped at Panda Gourmet for lunch and discovered this carving. We probably would have considered the blossom and leaf an exaggeration, an artist’s fantasy, if we hadn’t just been surrounded by similar giant water lotuses!
FYI: What is the difference between a water lily and a water lotus?
The leaves of lotus are emergent, meaning that they rise above the water level whereas the leaves of water–lily are found floating on the water surface. Same is true for their respective flowers; lotus flowers are emergent and water–lily flowers are floating
“H”opt outside! Bunnies are big this year per us and WashPost!
A “5-bunny” morning is pretty common here in southern MD. Even a “9-bunny” morning isn’t out of the question. Watching these crepuscular critters hop and gambol around the yard is such a treat!
Photos of bunny who was willing to pose, letting me get quite close. I wonder if it has hearing or vision issues because John reported similar visit with rabbit in same location.
Note tick on ear- a reminder to all of us to check carefully!
Gaff rigged schooner in summer haze
This gaff rigged schooner is an enlargement of a long shot thru a telescope. Not very clear but so lovely! Per Wikipedia, for those of you who know something about sailing:
Gaff rig[1] is a sailing rig (configuration of sails, mast and stays) in which the sail is four-cornered, fore-and-aft rigged, controlled at its peak and, usually, its entire head by a spar (pole) called the gaff. Because of the size and shape of the sail, a gaff rig will have running backstays rather than permanent backstays.
The gaff enables a fore and aft sail to be four sided, rather than triangular. A gaff rig typically carries 25 percent more sail than an equivalent bermudian rig for a given hull design.[2]
A sail hoisted from a gaff is called a gaff-rigged (or, less commonly, gaff rigged or gaffrigged) sail.[3]
We really can reach our dreams!
All your dreams are waiting to be caught. You can reach them!
carriestaples 