A little update to my blog...

Hello all - I've stepped ahead and changed the format of my blog.  Since I've done it and don't have the ability to add my bison picture to the header, I'm going to insert the picture here - it just makes me smile!



heading out of Yellowstone...


Let me know what you think of the new format - since I'm a picture-taker I figured you could browse the pics if you don't feel like reading the content!

Happy day, everyone - it's a beauty here in SW Florida!

VG

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and fathfulness go before you."
Psalm 89:14

Welcome to October!  Here in Florida the leaves don't turn colors, but it does start to cool off - thank goodness!  It's still hot but the mornings and evenings are tolerable.

The other evening we were out with friends and my friend asked me what's new.  I said, "Nothing - we are the boring couple!"  To which she replied, "That's great!  It means you're alive!"  I'd never thought of it that way, but it's true - so what if I'm not off on some exciting trip or doing something TV-worthy.  I'm still here, living life to the fullest (albeit not in a spine-tingling way!) and enjoying what God gave me.  Touche, my friend!

Have a beautiful day and thank the Lord above for your boring life!!  :-)

Hugs and smiles, VG

"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
Psalm 121:2

A little of this, a little of that...

Hello!  It's been a few weeks and I've got more pictures.  OK - so over the past few months of writing this blog I've realized that photography is kind of my passion!

This year we were fortunate enough to stay once again at the American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin for a conference.  The courtyard of the hotel was filled with flowers, and bees pollinating those flowers - it was mayhem and I loved it!  I found a bee with the biggest "pollen pocket" I have ever seen - it was ginormous!  :-)  It's always a challenge getting that close to the bees but they don't seem to mind me so I just keep clicking away...


Pollen pocket is the big orange "poof" on left rear leg



I also loved the incredible lilac-colored amaryllis (I think that's what they are) - I've never seen them that color before.  And the hibiscus were huge as well - they must use some mighty fine fertilizer up there!  The morning after the conference ended it was bright and the flowers had lots of droplets from the sprinkler system - just right for some photos - it was a great year for pictures!



     The droplets magnify what look like the flower's "petalprints"



As my husband returned me to the airport bright and early last week it looked like the sky was on fire - what a picture!  Sorry I haven't had time to edit out the telephone wires and lovely construction barrels, but hey, you get the idea!

Have an awesome day and enjoy His creation!

Fondly, VG

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

Soooo....Happy Labor Day, everyone!  I hope you are all relaxing and enjoying a great day with family.  We have had family here from up north - they didn't realize that their humidity and our humidity are two different weather environments!  Swimming in the pool is a wonderful way to spend the day...

So here are James and Elizabeth decked out for fun...who likes goggles?

Off to swim some more - happy day!!  VG

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture."  Psalm 37:3

Flowers and more flowers

As most of you know, I am a flower fanatic when it comes to beautiful arrangements.  We were fortunate enough to have gotten to Vail, CO this past weekend and they know how to do flowers!  We felt as though we had stepped into a little European village as we sat down for lunch in Lionshead.  These were just a few of the splendiferous offerings (outside a pizza place no less!)  



In the courtyard of the village at Lionshead



Next to our table at the pizzeria

 

One of the many window boxes

I had to smile at the Billy Goats Gruff guarding the village square: 

And, of course, one of my favorite shots, a macro of a flower of which I don't know the name:

It's a beautiful time to be out west!

Happy trails, VG

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the skies."

Psalm 36:5