Stargazer Oriental Lily (from my 35th Anniversary bouquet) 4/3/17
Star Gazer
A philosopher once asked, ‘Are we human because we gaze at the stars, or do we gaze at them because we are human?’
Pointless, really…
‘Do the stars gaze back?’
Now, that’s a question.
-Neil Gaiman
Something to think about – eh?
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Niagara Falls – Horseshoe and American Falls – from Canadian Side – April 1, 2017
Niagara Falls: A Great Weekend Getaway.
When Hubby and I decided to “getaway” for a weekend…
Hubby suggested Niagara Falls to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary.
Niagara Falls is truly a natural wonder to experience! We are fortunate it is only a 3 1/2 hour drive from our little town of Mars.
Horseshoe Falls – Niagara Falls – April 1, 2017
Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between the province of Ontario and the state of New York. They form the southern end of the Niagara Gorge.
Located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world that has a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m). Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by vertical height and flow rate.
Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m3) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost four million cubic feet (110,000 m3) on average.
The Niagara Falls are famed both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power.*
Horseshoe Falls – Niagara Falls – April 1, 2017
We had fun visiting both the U.S. and Canadian side of the falls (a passport is necessary to travel between the two).
It was a bit chilly in early April, but so worth it to avoid crowds! We visited early morning when the mist was heavy on the “American Side.” We walked the path along the “Canadian Side” during the afternoon when the sun broke through the clouds.
A highlight to experience (which we did) is riding the Aero Car, suspended by cables, over the Niagara Whirlpool. The Whirlpool is formed at the end of the rapids where the gorge turns abruptly counterclockwise and the river escapes through the narrowest channel in the gorge.
Aero Cable Car over Niagara Whirlpool – Niagara Falls – April 1, 2017
A visit to Niagara on the Lake is another highlight, with quaint shoppes and wonderful wineries that host pairings and tastings.
It was wonderful to head back to the U.S. side and experience the Falls at sunset before heading for dinner.
Niagara Falls at Sunset – from American Side – April 1, 2017
And after dinner, another visit to see the falls lit up at night.
Niagara Falls after Dark – from American Side – April 1, 2017
Niagara Falls is a great weekend getaway, with something for everyone – including casinos and wax museums and boat rides and cave tours. This is not our first visit, so we’ve experienced some of the others previously.
There is something so beautiful and special and even a bit romantic about Niagara Falls.
Thanks to our guys for “kicking us out” so we could have such a great getaway weekend!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Spring Surprises Popping Up.
Is anything more beautiful
that the bright pops of purple and yellow
that come in the Spring to brighten the brown and gray
and highlight the fresh new green?
Especially in unexpected places
on unexpected adventures
with people you love
on Sunday “rides.”
Spring is popping up.
Smell the air.
Listen to the sounds.
Look for the beauty!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Sunshine on a Cloudy Day.
Open your eyes
and look around.
I bet you will see
sunshine can be found.
…even on the cloudiest of days…
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
So lovely is…
the rise of the sun
on early morning walks
with a best friend
who is enthralled
with the excitement
of new discoveries
in the early dawn dew.
Seek
and
Cherish
the moments!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Almost
everything
will work again
if you
Unplug it
for a few minutes…
Including you.
– Ann Lamott
Unplug….
even if only
for a few minutes.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Its Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature!
Alright….
who tried to slip
Mother Nature
some Chiffon margarine
in place of butter?
Woke up early this morning
knowing it was coming…
the weather people
kept telling us.
But to see daffodils blooming
and tree buds bursting
in a haze of green
against a blue sky
and warm, sunny breeze
just yesterday…
and wake up to this –
albeit splendid beauty-
this morning…
Someone had to have tried to
fool Mother Nature!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A Ghost in the Tree
(A bit of Silly… Poetry)
Do you agree
with me?
Do you see
a ghost in the tree?
On a carefree
walk of sightsee,
it caused a teeny
bit of anxiety.
But Charlie in his chivalry
helped me gain clarity
and guaranteed
it was but a tree.
Such pedigree
to disagree
and decree
it must be too much coffee.
It was a beauty.
Could it be
a chickadee
or chimpanzee?
Whoppee
and Yippee
for a tree designee
of imaginative jubilee!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 
