I’m sharing a few smiles I’ve collected from around the world in today’s post. While you listen to the great Louis Armstrong, it is my hope these photos will put a smile on your face too. 🙂
Cuba:
Jamaica:
Italy:
Friends in Florida:
Relatives in Ottawa:
Dominican Republic:
This week’s photo challenge at the Daily Post inspired me to have a look back on our memorable trip to Italy and France. It didn’t take long to come “up” with some photos that fit nicely with the theme.
(Not sure if it’s against the rules to share more than one. ;)) I hope you enjoy them.
Here is my contribution to this week’s travel photo challenge, Bridges, by Ailsa at wheresmybackpack.com.
I simply had to begin with my favourite bridge from my travels in Europe, the Ponte Vecchio.
And now for a couple of bridges that are closer to home:
When you get a beautiful sunny day around here in the middle of February, it’s almost impossible to resist the urge to get outside and enjoy it. And especially so, when the forecast is telling you that it is the calm before yet another winter storm.
Yes, the winds are going to whip up again tonight, and we’ll have to be content with more cocooning. But yesterday my husband and I enjoyed a walk on the branch road, on perhaps the most brilliant winter day we’ve had this year.
Here is a sampling of some photos from our walk.
How about where you live? Are you enjoying your February weather?
I was a little disappointed this morning when I learned our area wouldn’t be getting the big dumping of snow that St. John’s and the rest of the Avalon Peninsula has in their forecast. Everyone there is bracing for up to seventy centimeters of the white stuff, while we are only expecting five to ten.
Boo! 😦
But then along came a little visitor down by our beach.
I thought it was an adult harp seal first, because he appeared to be mostly black.
But as I inched closer…and he turned to see me…
I could see more spottiness and some “whitecoat” on his other side.
When I reassured him that I meant no harm, he seemed to squint his eyes…sort of like my cats do when I talk “love talk” to them. 🙂
Don’t worry, little seal.
You are so very close to my house.
I’m not fond of seal meat or flipper pie, so you have nothing to fear from me.
So even though I’m going to miss the big snowfall back home, I never could have gotten these pics back in my old backyard !
To see photos of the baby seal, or whitecoat, that visited us last winter, click here, and scroll down. 🙂
Here is my contribution to Ailsa’s travel theme this week, a closer look at multiples on some vacations of mine.
To start things off, here are a couple of snaps from Cuba.
Hmm…this perspective is making me thirsty.
Of course, when it comes to multiple anything, Disney World delivers.
Inside the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, an abundance of stained glass splendour awaits.
…And just outside the cathedral, who can resist all the tiny feathered friends eagerly accepting snacks?
A restaurant on a pier in Jamaica awaits its tablecloths, and its evening diners.
Springtime in Montreal is always a delight.
Also in Montreal, I spotted these ladies. I just love them.
Swimming in Florida. Multiples come in actual human form too, of course.
One year ago today, on New Year’s Eve, 2011, I started this blog, Jennifer’s Journal. And as I mentioned in the very first post, Follow the Yellow Brick Road, I had no idea where my blog would take us. So here is what I found out.
1. I didn’t know I would have the resolve to faithfully post to my blog a little more than once a week on average. WordPress, being the best blogging site – in my opinion – had a lot to do with my enthusiasm.
2. I didn’t know I would be taking my visitors and followers on a pictorial journey of our 2011 trip to Italy and France. Nor did I know that one of these installments,
“Scenes From Italy – Part Three: Siena and Florence, Tuscany” would consistently be my most visited post, from all around the world!
3. I hadn’t made plans yet to take a Spring vacation in Florida, with my husband and my daughter and her family. My photo album from that trip,
“For the Young, & the Young at Heart: Disney’s Magic Kingdom“, would garner a record of 449 views on May 8th, the most views I had in one day.
4. I wasn’t fully aware of how beautiful it actually is where I live, here in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, until I read your lovely comments on my local photographic efforts. 🙂 “Autumn Walk on the East Coast” was a particular favourite.
5. I came to learn how the poems, musings, and photographs of my grandchildren would be a popular subject for many!
6. That goes for the posts of my little cats, Maisie and Vivian, as well. One of them even guest-posted in “Vivian’s View From Here“.
7. I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of support my blog received, as I was losing my mother. I cannot fully express what a source of comfort those caring comments were, and still are.
8. I didn’t know I was going to publish sixteen of my poems, and that I would be proud of them. 🙂
9. I wasn’t sure (but I am pleased I did) that I would keep my resolution to start writing a novel, and am now starting Chapter Six of the first draft. My post about it, Then You Must Write It, would be one my most popular blog posts, generating many of your comments.
10. Novel writing or not, I love my blog as the vehicle of self-expression it has turned out to be, and I will continue to update it in 2013. Connecting with many of you and making new friends is one of the best advantages of blogging.
So, let me say to all of my followers and visitors from sixty-six countries, a GIANT THANK YOU! And a Happy New Year to you all. 🙂
Come along with me as I revisit my community’s Living Heritage Village. It is a major tourist attraction in this part of our province, providing a historical look back at the old days for our visitors, and seasonal employment for some of our locals.
During the summer, the Village provides guided tours by staff in period costumes, as well as dinner theatre and concerts in the buildings I have shown here. Also featured are a craft shop, art gallery, tea room, and a restaurant.
So if you are ever in my area, do drop in and check it out. For more info, visit the website: www.barbour-site.com
Come along as we take a stroll through Newtown on this beautiful October day.
Trees and their foliage are, without a doubt, some of Nature’s most wondrous treasures.
But sometimes, the best photograph of a tree is not as much about the tree itself, but what is found in and among its foliage and branches.
Like in this photo I snapped in Varadero, Cuba, you may see tiny birds:
…two “love birds”, perhaps?
Or you might happen upon a couple of sister cats exploring among the leaves:
And if you see a magnificent tree such as this one day, don’t be surprised to find little children playing among its sturdy limbs:
This has been my contribution to wheresmybackpack.com’s weekly Travel Theme.
This week: Foliage
Thank you for the inspiration, Ailsa!
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