July 2010

It's Monday... BLAHhhhhh!
So, does that mean boring workday photos?
No No No!  NOT THIS MONTH!

I planned my day so that I'd be around Niagara Falls - The Falls - at lunch time, so you are in for a visual treat today!  That, AND, I have a new 18-200 lens for the camera (since I broke the original 18-55 last week; dropped it on the stone driveway.  Oops).  So I was excited to try it out... and what better place than Niagara Falls?

But first, the important stuff.  Many thanks to Chad Darnell for starting the 12-of-12 Project!  If you want more information or want to participate, visit his website then get out your camera!

Sooooooo... do you wanna see my pix?!?!
Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?
Of COURSE you do!

6:30AM @ Home:
Okay, so I have one boring Monday picture.  My first-thing-Monday-morning ritual is my weekly weigh-in.  Now, I'm not all hung-up on my weight, but I do use it as a barometer.  Over the years I've determined "my range" - if I get beyond that range, I need to kick the workouts up a notch.
This photo also follows one of Chad's original 12-of-12 rules... the 12-of-12er must be in at least one shot each month (can be just an arm/leg/face/etc).

Like my pretty pedicure?!

Now for the really good stuff...

12:00-1:00PM:  Niagara Falls State Park, Niagara Falls, NY

As always, if you'd like to see larger versions of the photos posted here, click on them to enlarge them.  Also, if you're interested in an aerial "map" of the park, with points-of-interest labeled, visit www.exploringmonkey.com for this amazing shot.  (Thanks, Exploring Monkey!)

It was a slightly overcast day, with a chance of rain, so the colors aren't as brilliant as they might have been had it been sunny. 

I started at the eastern Pedestrian Bridge and crossed over the American Rapids to Goat Island.  The Niagara River breaks into two branches that form the three waterfalls.

Then  I followed the foot path to Terrapin Point & the Canadian Falls (also known as "Horseshoe Falls" because of it's shape).

It's amazing how close you can get to the water.  Just past the guardrail is the fast-moving Niagara River.

On the right side of this next shot, you can see the Maid of the Mist - a boat that takes you to the base of the Falls.

On the north side of Goat Island, are the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.  Below is the American Falls.

Looking down to the base of the falls.  On the left side are the people visiting the Cave of the Winds, where you can go "behind" the Falls (and get a spiffy yellow poncho, to keep!).

The beautiful Bridal Veil Falls...

But wait...
There's someone out on in the water...

Hey Lady!

NO... don't do it!!  

You have SO much to live for!!

WAIIIiiiiiiitttttt!

Tee hee... it's just a duck.  

"Living on the edge"

5:30PM @ Home:

I was hoping to have a beautiful lush garden to share with you today, but the dry weather hasn't been kind to my plants.  We've had plenty of sun and warmth, but I haven't watered, so the garden is a little sparse.  Here are a couple shots from around the yard.

Lovely Day Lilies

My 1st Hollyhock! (almost)

 Black-eyed Susan (and friend)

Not sure I'll get to this tonight (posting 12-of-12 photos is taking some time...), but I am working on a new knitting project.  It's going to be a baby blanket for an expectant friend.  Her shower is next month, so I better get a move-on.

The more important item of note is the bag... my wonderful & talented niece, Emma, drew/colored/painted the picture, then her school had the artwork printed on stuff.  Now I have a perfect tote for the yarn, needles, etc.  LOVE IT!

And finally -

The View from the Porch

As I mentioned earlier, the heat has really dried everything out.  If it rains tonight or tomorrow, like the weather people predict, I'm sure the flowers will really pop!  But for now, my lawn is dry and my gardens meager.  OH, but there is one change you might notice.  Yesterday the hubby and I removed all the old, rotten railroad ties that bordered the walkways and replaced them with large stones.  I'm so happy with the way it turned out.  Now if the grass would fill in, it would be perfect!

If you're keeping track, yes, there are 13 pictures this month.  I couldn't help it.  It couldn't decide on which one to bump out, so I left them all in.  I actually took 84 pictures today, but some of them didn't turn out or were dups or weren't worthy of posting here with this month's "full" set.

Thanks for visiting!  See ya next month!