Good Morning

"Morning is the dream renewed, the heart refreshed, earth's forgiveness painted in the colors of the dawn"

Kent Nerburn
 

A real treat

I am sure I mentioned a while back that I had bought some sachet's at the grocery store that I really liked and I put them in various places....well, one of the places I put one is this kitchen drawer.

 

and to my surprise the books that I read daily have absorbed some of the smell!

 Yep, that top one is used and only cost 50 cents but it not only gives great reflections but awesome smells as well.

 

 

Can you relate?

I am over the moon happy with our new purchase!!!!!!

Yes, that is right...a new toilet. Year after year the old toilet limped along flushing with help many times from that dreaded

Hubby and I have lived in this home for 23 years and it just seems things wear out little by little but we just keep limping along with whatever it is until I finally say....ENOUGH!
It was getting so I was lusting over the hotel toilets that do that mighty flush.
Once the decision was made it was all a piece of cake thanks for our son-in-law and now every morning I am doing the Happy dance:)

I think the groaning microwave is next.


 

Pictures and captions

 

These are some wonderful pictures that I added a caption to...What caption would you use?

 

 

 

 

 

 1.

Beauty in motion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 2.

Forgotten

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 3.

Determination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 4.

Heavenly

 

 

 

 

 

 5.

Dreams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 6.

Night life

 

 

 

 

 

 

 7.

Wide open spaces

 

 

 

 

 

 8.

Romantic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 9.

Caught on camera

 

 

 

 

 

 10.

Precision

 

 

 

 11.

Tranquil

 

 

 

 

 12.

Hope

 

 

 

 

Melia Puerto Vallarta

As most of you know we use to travel to Mexico at least once or twice a year but because of the crime situation we stopped going. I miss it so much so thought we could maybe go and stay in the marina area which is very close to the airport (short taxi ride) compared to going downtown.

 I found a fantastic deal at Melia Puerto Vallarta.

It was our first time to try a all inclusive Resort so was a little leery but we surely were not disappointed or left to go hungry. Breakfast was a large buffet style with everything from fruits to personal made omelets and of course refried beans for those that like that. There was no limit on food or drinks including alcohol but of course the very expensive things like lobster and 1800 Tequila were a extra charge.
There were two places for lunch everyday...one a snack place that had hamburgers, hot dogs, salad and chips and salsa and the other a full buffet that had everything including personal made spaghetti (which was delicious by the way).

Dinners were in different places on different days and some of the three dinner places were open everyday so you had plenty of choices. I really can't say enough for the food and service, It was surprisingly very good and most people never tipped as it was to be included as well...oh and kids eat free. Can you imagine all the pop and hamburgers free!

Our room was spotless and I loved this little lamp

 

 

Our view. The huts were for massages but it was hot and humid (80 degrees with 60% humidity) and not very popular while we were there. On out you can see the ocean but because of the fountains we never heard much of any waves unless we walked down closer to it.

Can you find the critter in the tree?

They were some of the local residents

They even had one of those machines where you could buy food and feed them....(don't try to pet one)

 

as well as the fish...

which didn't get even half the attention.

 

The grounds of the facility were just beautiful and constantly cleaned and cared for.

 You see the hut walkway going out from the building?

This was walking under it and the group of tree above across the back?

Provided this beautiful walkway.

There were coconut palm trees...

I saw one bartender chopping a fresh one for drinks.

 

 and trees that reminded me of Hawaii

 

All sorts of greenery everywhere:

 

Upper lobby where we sought out the ocean breeze.

Lower lobby

How is this for a divider:)

 

A beautiful pool that included games for the kids and adults as well as water aerobics and many, many more activities if you were interested from a Rock climbing wall to Kayaks and a area for the little ones called the Flintstones land. Hubby and I just hung around...ate, slept and enjoyed the surroundings.

 

The very best thing for us? We felt very safe but then we never left the facility or took any tours like we use to do. We were one of very few white people there as most were Mexican with families. They had entertainment in the evening but it was in Spanish and didn't start until 9:30 p.m. so we passed on those. All in all it was a great relaxing time and well worth the money. The only thing that really got to me was that in the room there was free beer, water and pop in the frig but if you wanted coffee for the in-room coffee pot it was $40.00 peso (close to $4.00). Everything else was free everywhere....I sure thought that was strange....but we had Starbuck instant packets to the rescue:)

We entertained ourselves by watching the local animals like the ducks that visited..

 

and these beautiful little warblers..

 

To how many Iguana's were on the Island

 

 

You can see the rest of the town on the other side of the ocean. It is a pretty place.

Two warnings if you go....Do not stop in the Airport no matter what anyone says to you...just keep on walking until you get outside to a taxi stand and beware that even here at this facility they wanted you to hear about how to become a member of their club. They did take no pretty well compared to the timeshare hawkers.

 

 

Troubling times in the kIngdom

 

Last Weds. we had a yard guy come and fix a broken water line that ran under one of the driveways....He indeed fixed it but in the process cut our Internet/phone line. By the time we realized what had happened it was after 5:00 P.M. and they couldn't come until the next day (we were scheduled to fly out of the country) so not able to get it all fixed until today. That is a long time not being able to read my blogs and etc. but it is fixed now so will tell you about the trip and catch up this week.

Lucy the Elephant

Lucy the Elephant is located along the beach in Josephine Harron Park in Margate, NJ.
Is she cute? Indeed and she is also listed on the National Park Registry of Historical Landmarks.

 At sixty five feet high she was no small endeavor. On the available tour you can climb a spiral staircase through her insides all the way up to the Howdah on her back which will provide you with a 360o view of the shore.

 

Even her backside is cute

 

 

and not missing a beat they did this clever 9/11 fund raiser.....