Oh The Places I've Been -- Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas

Hi everyone; I hope you're having a great week!  I'm excited to be participating in The Tablescaper's weekly Friday party, "Oh The Places I've Been."  This week, I'm going to share some pictures from 2006 when I tagged along accompanied Mr. Forest Manor on a business trip to Las Vegas.

One Happy Dog

I want to say "Thanks" to all of you for the sweet comments I received on the article I wrote about my friend Judy and her therapy dog, McDuff.  That meant a lot to me, and it meant a lot to Judy, as well.  She is such a nice person.

The reason Judy and I got acquainted was, of course, our mutual love for Scotties; and our dogs even had the same names.  I thought I'd share a few funny pictures of my MacDuff, just in case you could use a laugh today.  :)

MacDuff on the Blue Ridge Parkway - 2011

May Note Card Party -- Images of England

Our good friend Vee, at A Haven For Vee, is hosting her monthly Note Card Party.  This party is one of my favorites because we get to look back through our archives and pick a few favorite photos to share with readers who may not have seen them before.  I love seeing other people's note cards because even though I may read their blogs regularly, chances are I haven't seen these particular posts.

This month, I'm sharing some images from our trip to England in 1999.  As I explained in my previous posts, these pictures were all taken using a point and shoot camera with film (no digital cameras for us back then).  As of this year, the pictures are 14 years old; they're not perfect, but I think they've held up pretty well for the most part.  I hope you enjoy!

"View From a Double-Decker Bus"
London

Happy Mother's Day

I want to wish my Mom, my Mother-in-Law, my sister, and all my sweet blogging friends a very Happy and Blessed Mother's Day!

"In The Nursery," by Helen Allingham

A Book Review and A New Friend

Hi everyone.  What kind of week are you having?  My week is going to be busy; I still have a lot to do before next Friday (graduation day), but I want to keep up with my blog, even if I just write a few things over the next week and a half.

Writing this blog has been such a good thing for me; it has challenged and motivated me to learn new things, and it's definitely broadened my horizons.  One of the best things I've experienced is meeting so many nice people with similar interests, and I've even gotten to meet a few of you in person.

The most recent example of that is my new friend, Judy McFadden.  Meeting Judy was definitely one of those serendipitous occasions that happen to us from time to time in life.

Those of you who read my blog regularly know that we have a Scottish Terrorist Terrier named MacDuff, whose picture is on my sidebar.  MacDuff is the third Scottie I've had in my lifetime and the second one for my husband and I.  Some time back, I started a board on my Pinterest account called "Love Scotties."  I honestly can't remember where I saw this book now, but I came across it online back in the winter and pinned it to my board.  The book is called, "Life With McDuff -- Lessons Learned from a Therapy Dog."  

A Busy Month Ahead

I may have to take some breaks from blogging during the next three or four weeks.  We have a lot going on here at the hacienda.  :)  I have a sewing class and project to finish.  Our teacher has kindly offered to let us make up a class because we've had to miss a few due to sickness and a concert at our son's university.

The big event in our lives right now is that our son is about to graduate from college in just about three and a half weeks.

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Spring -- Here At Last!

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 "Spring Morning"

Where am I going?  I don't quite know.
Down to the stream where the king-cups grow--
Up on the hill where the pine-trees blow--
Anywhere, anywhere.  I don't know.

Where am I going?  The clouds sail by,
Little ones, baby ones, over the sky.
 Where am I going?  The shadows pass,
Little ones, baby ones, over the grass.

If you were a cloud, and sailed up there
You'd sail on water as blue as air,
And you'd see me here in the fields and say:
"Doesn't the sky look green today?"

Where am I going?  The high rooks call:
"It's awful fun to be born at all."
Where am I going?  The ring-doves coo:
"We do have beautiful things to do."

If you were a bird, and lived on high,
You'd lean on the wind when the wind came by,
You'd say to the wind when it took you away:
"That's where I wanted to go today!"

Where am I going?  I don't quite know,
What does it matter where people go?
Down to the wood where the blue-bells grow--
Anywhere, anywhere, I don't know.
~A. A. Milne, "When We Were Very Young"


 "The first day of Spring is one thing, the first Spring day another.  The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month." ~Henry Van Dyke 

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow." ~Proverb