Happy Monday....and a belated Happy Mother's Day to all mothers!!

I actually had a nice little Mother's Day post almost ready to publish last night when I Googled a site to add as a link and lost it all......I am still getting used to my new laptop.  Oh boy, this conversion to laptop phase is very humbling.  I thought I was pretty decent at this "techno" stuff, but it appears that I am quite inadequate.  I have had to add an external mouse to my new laptop gear, which sort of defeats the whole purpose of the laptop....now I'm dragging cords and other gadgets around the house whenever I need to use the computer.....very uncool :o(.................I will prevail!!!!!
 
Enough of that....it's a new week and I must stay positive!!

I was spoiled with beautiful gifts again this Mother's Day, and I had a special gift from my "other half"---in my case he probably makes up closer to 75-80% (te-he).  He bought me a new bicycle.  I sort of hinted ....a lot.  Anyway, my bike....she is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-L!!!  I think she should even have a name....that's something to ponder!  "She" has coaster brakes, and is now complete with rear-view mirror and the most awesome basket /carrier mounted on the handlebars.  I picked out my own matching helmet.  I must say I never thought I'd be cruising the streets of Gambo on a bicycle wearing a helmet....but hey!  This bike is helping me train for my first Tely 10 race in July.  Of course, I will be in the 'walking category' at the Tely this year, but it's a start.....right??

As I slowly get more acquainted with my new computer (I have certainly called this new laptop a few choice names over the past few days), I will be able to post a few pictures of my new bike.  I will have to name her....I can't keep calling her "my new bike" or "the bike"---I have a couple of names in mind actually, I'll have to narrow it down and decide!  Isn't it funny how I refer to "my new bike" as "her"????

I must go---I am dilly-dallying here now and I have things to do.......like go for a ride on "my new bike"  Ha ha !!!

Cheers everyone--have a great week ;o)

Reflections of the A-Z Challenge

Well,where do I start?

I loved it but am very happy it's over.  I guess it was a bit much to take on, after literally just starting my very first blog only days before the challenge began.

Next year, I will be really organized and pick a theme and try to get a lot of my posts in draft, at least.  It's amazing, everything I do now, such as cooking or baking, I'm always thinking----I can use this in a blog!!

I loved getting comments on my posts, and I loved visiting the blogs of my visitors...which can be quite time-consuming, however, I am still enjoying that part of it. 

I am really grateful that my daughter, Rana. talked me into starting a blog. I love to write and take photos, so this is definitely a place to share that. 

Looking forward to a good year ahead on the "blog-front".....and before we know it, we'll be signing up for the A-Z Challenge 2013!!!!!

Cheers

This has been a mad day....Painters just left--all the interior trim has been finished!!! 

Yippee!!--I am so happy to put away the drop sheets for the last time.  It seems like the whole house is in such  a mess when there is painting being done------when else do you have to literally take everything off the walls???  That's major work!

I just finished my clean-up and poured myself a big mug of Egyptian licorice tea....yuuummmy ;o)  

I snuggled up in the sun-room this morning for an hour or so, before my better half got up, and started a new book-Finding me in France-I feel like I'm going to be stealing away to read a lot over the next few days.  I love it when I start a new book and get hooked right from page 1!!!!  My book is extra special because my daughter Rana gave it to me...AND.....it's a signed copy.  She picked it up for me in St. John's last week at the Chapter's book signing event.  She sent it out with her Dad as a "Pre-Mother's Day" gift.  Rana has been following the author's blog, and "keeping-on" for me to check it out....I did and I'm not disappointed!!!  Her posts are hilarious...she could publish her next book, right from her blog!!  

When I read her blog...or the book--I feel like I did when I watched the Bridget Jones movies or The Holiday with Cameron Diaz!  That's a nice feeling.  

I'm looking forward to a nice hot bath after my walk tonight and a good read....

Happy Sunday everyone!!

Hi everyone

I have been away for awhile.  Actually this is first my post since April 31!!!

I went to St. John's to visit Rana & Mark for a few days, while Roger was off on yet another adventure.  He went out on a crab fishing boat!!!  200 MILES out into the North Atlantic....in all that wind and terrible weather!!

Thank Goodness for modern technology and satellite phones.  I was really nervous while he was out----with good reason.  He didn't let on to just how stormy it really was while he was out there....until he got back---which saved my fingernails and possibly all my hair.

He went out for on the "Roberts Sisters II"-- here's a picture of the boat a day before they left.  The boat was moored at the south side dock in St. John's harbor ---Cabot Tower on Signal Hill in the background....

Below are a few photos that he managed to take...it was a trip of a lifetime---the captain(Terry Bungay) and all the crew were extraordinary...

This particular vessel can carry 50 000 pounds of live crab in her holding tanks. 

That's a lot of crab dip!!!!

Roger was amazed at how hard the crew works for the entire trip.  When they come in to offload, they usually spend one night at home, load all fresh supplies on the boat and do it all over again.  This is not a lazy man's work.

Even though this trip was extremely rough (weather wise), Roger did manage to get this beautiful picture of the sunset, during the one period of about two hours that was relatively calm.....

 It is work, work, work for the crew throughout the entire trip---

 Daytime........

 

or Night-time......

The objective is to get the crab quota, get in and offload, then go out again.

It's not a bed of roses on the great North Atlantic Ocean..  Below is a shot of the ocean ahead as the boat headed out to haul the first crab traps.  Roger said this view shows a relatively calm water in comparison to most of this trip....

A glimpse at the mighty North Atlantic Ocean

 This, in my opinion, is one of the most delightful sites on planet earth today.......

A peek at one of the magical views as you cruise back into the safety of St. John's harbor

 Of course--this makes it all worth while.....

Yummy!!!!

is for..........ZOO


This past September, I had my very first visit to a zoo....and it was quite a zoo......

I have about 400 pictures that I took at the zoo...It was really hard to narrow it down to three or four for my blog post.

So pretty...and pink

I was happy there was a glass wall between us!!

Again....really appreciated that glass wall!! ha ha

The zoo-keeper couldn't identify the creature in the bottom right....Oh, it's Dave!!!

I loved the elephants,  They are so big, but almost graceful at the same time.

We spent an entire day the Bronx zoo, but I could've 

easily gone back for 

another day.  It was fabulous!

z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z z

Now folks......this being the last day of the A-Z challenge, 

I'd like to put out a fun little challenge for my readers....

Learn the alphabet backwards!!!

When my parents went to school.....back in the 20's and 30's, 

they both had to memorize the alphabet backwards 

as well as forward--as most of us know it.

I tried it last summer, had it posted on the fridge and I 

almost had it.  Then one 

day, in a cleaning and tidying frenzy, I threw it out.

But.....it's back there now.  

There is a little bit of a rhyme to it, I've added a link.  

By the way---"Z" is pronounced "Zed"--ha ha

The letters are grouped as follows:

Z Y X

W V

U T S

R Q P

O N M

 L K J

I H G

F E D

&

C B A

Ok--signing off from the April A-Z challenge. 

I loved it and now I'm going to settle in and visit all the 
people who visited me during April.
  I am going to respond to everyone and 

work on improving my own blog.
I'm so happy I took the "A-Z" challenge!

Let me know how you do with my "Z-A" challenge!

Cheers ;o)