Leu Gardens

If you don't like ants, don't go to Leu Gardens near Orlando, Florida. There's a whole ant trail of them. But no ant hills. Florida is too flat. Leu Gardens is located near Orlando, Florida. A nice floral diversion from the fakery of the theme parks.

Don't get webbed either.

The historic Leu House and museum. 

Four Florida families lived here. Including the silent screen star Helen Garder. I absolutely love touring old mansions. Always have. Someday I'll get to tour Biltmore. The ultimate American mansion.

My favorite part of Leu Gardens was the giant spiders hovering over the trail. The only thing missing was an electromagnetic ray of lightening like in War of the Worlds. 

O.K. I guess there was a little fakery.

The Awesome Links:

Wild Bird Wednesday

Wednesdays around the World!

Tanama Tales

Our World Tuesday

Budget Travel on Thursday

Sky Watch Friday!

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Lonely Leon Beaches

We spent a week wandering the gritty streets of Leon, Nicaragua in January. But when we travel, we're never far from the beach. It was only twenty minutes by car to Playa Las Poneloya and Playa Las Penitas. Or, if you are traveling by horse and wagon, as most Nicaraguans do, well, it might take a little longer. We came in the afternoon. We came at sunset. And we came at my favorite time of day. Morning. And we walked. 

We did the free beach StairMaster. 

We bird watched. 

We looked for sea shells. Sand dollars seem to be prolific in Nicaragua. 

We reached the end.

We even had afternoon tea.

We enjoyed the curious.

We shared the sand with ponies.

We saw a few humans in awe of the ocean. In other words, we found our people.

We watched a free ball game.

We watched. And reflected. Literally. 

And lastly, we brought a Tona or two and watched sunset from the pastel stairs. 

We were happy.

The Awesome Links:

Wild Bird Wednesday

Wednesdays around the World!

Tanama Tales

Our World Tuesday

Budget Travel on Thursday

Sky Watch Friday!

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Walnut Canyon

We stopped at this scenic overlook on our way to Flagstaff, AZ last summer. What a view! But then again, I enjoyed all the views between Sedona at around 4,000 feet and up to Flagstaff at around 7,000 feet. 

A local critter.

Once at the top, we stopped at Walnut Canyon. We didn't hike to the cliff dwellings because it started raining. I guess it's lucky I'm not one of the ancient Sinagua, who inhabited these dizzying dwellings long ago. If I couldn't handle a little rain, I probably couldn't scale the limestone fortress to get home. What were they thinking? 

Zoom.

At least we stayed long enough to walk the rim and soak in the sights. Which consisted of blond stone walls, scattered grey tree bones and lots of crows. I do love crows. They are the muse for my future novel after all.

Vista!

The Awesome Links:

Wild Bird Wednesday

Wednesdays around the World!

Tanama Tales

Our World Tuesday

Budget Travel on Thursday

Sky Watch Friday!

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P.S. Visit the The Chorus of the Crows this week for a monster of a post!  

Florida Potpourii 2016

Turquoise and other beautifully saturated shades at Barefoot Beach. 

I've been to Florida twice since I captured all of these Florida photos...

A gloriously rusty, tripped out Ford in the Everglades. 

Quiet reflection.

A wondrous web.

Corkscrew fog.

Rookery roots.

Corkscrew creatures.

Things found at Crew trails.

Something to crow about in Sarasota. 

Osprey at Barefoot Beach.

Modeling at Rookery Swamp.

Spooning in a ditch.

Poolside color.

Corkscrew critter.

Growing solo.

Swimming at Rookery Swamp.

Little things at Crew trails.

I've heard so many people throughout my life say how much they hate Florida. I just feel sorry for them. Because they don't know where to look. Or are unable to see the forest through the trees. 

The Awesome Links:

Wild Bird Wednesday

Wednesdays around the World!

Tanama Tales

Our World Tuesday

Budget Travel on Thursday

Sky Watch Friday!

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