I Love Spring TWO!!!!!

So today's walk was even SPRINGIER!!!  I saw TWO daffodil that had opened, TWO garter snakes (ish!), and, on the farthest (furthest?) curve of my walking route, ELEVEN wild turkeys! 

I BELIEVE they are the eleven that used to live in the woods behind my townhouse (see THIS blog entry for details...!).

Even though the day started out at 40 degrees (SORRY houseplants that I left outside last night...I thought it would stay warm...!!!!), it's a LOVELY 62 degrees right now...life is good!!!!!!

Here's hoping YOU were able to enjoy some nature today as well!!!!!

I LOVE Spring!!!!

Except for not being able to breathe and wanting to scratch my eyes out, I LOVE spring!  I took a wonderful walk this morning, and, even though it's MARCH, the crocus are blooming, the trees are budding, the grass is turning green, and nature is again waking up!

I've not been a fan of winter for awhile now (I know...and you moved to MINNESOTA??!!), and, even though this last winter wasn't particularly bad (compared, especially, to last year), I've SOOOOO been longing for spring.  It's here, and I'm REALLY hoping it's here to STAY!

On my walk, I saw a white heron sitting on a branch...soooo cool!  I'm especially fond of this particular bird since my two years of living in Himeji, Japan.  The castle in Himeji is nicknamed "the White Heron", and the white heron brings back so many AMAZING memories of my time there!

"The White Heron Castle"- Himeji-Jo!

Here's hoping YOU are enjoying the end of winter, and that happy memories are filling your thoughts as well!!!!!

Photography Contest

So....I'm not sure how this works, but I've entered a photography contest in one of the MANY magazines to which I subscribe.  This one, actually, was a "freebie" for making purchases at a jazzy kitchen store at 50th and France in Edina. 

The magazine is Conde Nast Traveler, and, except for a few cool tidbits every now and then, is REALLY not for people in my tax bracket.  I'd LOVE to travel to some of the locations, and stay at some of the AMAZING hotels featured, but that's just not going to happen.

Unless...I win this contest.  I submitted a few of my favorite travel photos on their website. Let me know what you think of my entries, and, what the heck...click the LIKE button for your favorites.  From what I've gathered, the winner is not picked by how many "likes" they get, but...it couldn't hurt!

Click HERE to go to the website.  Scroll down on the page to see my first photo (the Arc de Triomphe), and, at the bottom of the page, see the other photos by clicking on the arrows to the left and right of the photos under "More by this photographer".

The grand prize is a $25,000.00 "Dream Trip", and I've already got SEVERAL ideas of where to go!

Here's hoping YOU are dreaming big too!!!!