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Saturday, August 30, 2014

Ecoduct

"Ecoduct" Do you know what it is? Have you ever seen one?
The first one was constructed in France during the 1950s and today there are hundreds of them.






Ecocuct are structures that allow animals to cross human-made barriers safely and may include underpass tunnels, viaducts and overpasses.


 Saves lives...animals and humans.





 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 

 
This one is Baniff Canada
 
I may have gone under one and just thought it was a tunnel:)

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Desert Rain


It was a interesting morning here Tuesday. It was slightly overcast and calm and boom! It was pouring rain! Rain in the Arizona desert is always a big deal and that is why people like me post about it.


I can imagine my plants happy like this:

and if I had a cat:

and if I had a little grandbaby:

and if I were forty years younger:

and if I found a spider web:

and how the birds I feed must look like:

The local news:
and if you think it is a joke and not to be paid attention to you should watch the video:

 
But for me an hubby it means run get your coffee and come sit under the porch and watch it pour!!!!!
 
Sheets off the roof
 
 
and no where for the dog to pee

 
 

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Central Park

 
 
 
 
 
 I was able to visit Central Park several years ago but only just to walk a short distance into the entrance.
 If I ever have the opportunity to go again, I would want to try to see it all, and as you can see by the map.....
that would take some time
 or maybe a carriage ride.
 
What an amazing place, it was initially opened in 1857 and covered 778 acres, it now covers 843 acres. The reason the park was even created was because between 1821 and 1855, New York City nearly quadrupled in population and people were so desperate to escape the city they were going to cemeteries.
 
At one point in time it fell into decline but when a new governor came on board it was turned around and continues to have top maintenance to this day. There are approximately 37.5 million people that come to visit annually and it is open all year.


In the summer of 1966, two-term mayor of New York (1966–73) John V. Lindsay, himself an avid cyclist, initiated a weekend ban on automobiles in Central Park for the enjoyment of cyclists and public alike – a policy that continues yet today.

 
Row boats and kayaks can be rented at the Loeb Boathouse, which also houses a restaurant overlooking the Lake

 

There are two outdoors swimming pools that convert to ice rinks in the wintertime.

and the most famous one....
 Rockefeller Center.
 
There is rock climbing...
 
The Central Park Zoo



which would take some time to see it all.....
 
You don't want to miss the polar bears!!
 
.

There are a total of twenty-one playgrounds and twenty-nine sculptures....
 such as "Alice in Wonderland".
 
You will find the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater which was originally a model schoolhouse built in Sweden that hosts many plays and the Belvedere Castle.
 
 
 but the most awesome sites are the beauty of nature.
 
 
 






 

 Yes, a haven in the middle of a city.

 








 

Monday, August 4, 2014

Grand Canyon Trip Cont.

We finally arrived at the north rim and let me tell you..........it is beautiful!! Unlike the south rim the only place to take it all in is from the Lodge itself and it is right on the edge.





 
 
 
 
A ledge you could walk out on.
The south rim is only 30 min. across as a bird flies but a 5 1/2 hour drive by car.
 
Check out how old it is!!!
 
 
 
Now, the thing is there is only one place to stay here and even though I called two months ahead for a reservation they only had one "cabin" left with one full bed and one twin bed. Needless to say I took it but boy was it little..
 Here's the full bed
 Here's is the twin bed and that wall is the end of the cabin and the bathroom is to the left.
 
 
 Here is the entrance.
 
All this for $140.00 a night! Now if you saw how many there were you will quickly come to the conclusion they have a little gold mine here.
 
The little bathroom did have something neat in it.... this ceiling fixture.
It was a sucker fan, heating fan, light and night light all in one. Was nice to not have to stumble in the dark to find the bathroom and was such a soft light it didn't disturb you.
 
Now if you don't think these cabins are small check this out...
this is two cabins together and that is how all of them were. Some were a little larger with a porch but they were all duplex style and of course you could hear right through the wall. The grounds were pretty and we lucked out to be close to the lodge itself because hubby had a hard time in the high altitude with his COPD. It was so nice and cool and love the pine trees...
 
 
The lodge was real nice and they even had a little "saloon".
 
 
Check out the picture behind the bottles..
 
I had made dinner reservations at the lodge the same time I reserved the room and sure am glad I did. It was the only place to have a meal other than a little deli and the food and service were real good.
The lodge is impressive and well maintained...

 The backside of the Lodge with chairs to enjoy the view. Am glad we made the trip here. We got up early the next morning, had breakfast here at the lodge and headed out. We had a long drive ahead to get to our next destination.

We stopped in our little home town "Ash Fork" and saw hubby's brother and then headed on south to the Prescott Resort. We have stayed here many times but I never tire of the view of Prescott...
 See that little knob hill?
It is called "Thumb Butte" and see all these white things on the ground .....
Those are grave markers for this military graveyard that is close to the VA called Whipple.
 It is a beautiful area and one that holds many memories for me. My grandmother lived here, I went to beauty school here and my Dad died here at the VA. Although he was a veteran he is not buried here because it has been full for many years. He and my mom are buried in another cemetery here in Prescott Valley.
We have loved this resort but twice now after their big remodel our dinning experience had not been good and if we stay again we won't go for thirds. So it is with travel:)