Last Vestiges of Winter

It is late March in Northern New Jersey, and dirty piles of leftover snow have just about melted away.  Along back trails of the Ramapo Mountains, streams are flowing again creating interesting shapes and patterns in their melting ice. Sandy, our faithful hiking companion back then, was exhausted after this particular late March day ….in 2006.

Thanks for Viewing. Comments are always welcome, and zooooooom in for a closer look!  M 🙂

Rebirth in Great Smokey Mountains, Zoom-in Version

 

There is a wonderful five mile one-way roadway just east of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in the foothills of Mount LeConte, the third highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, at 6,923 (2010 m.) The auto turn-outs allow access to old growth forests, streams, waterfalls, wildlife and more. Recently, Sandy Paws and I found unexpected tranquility, and almost complete silence, among the resurgence of forest life, ten months after devastating fires sorched the region.

A short walk from one of the turn-outs, leads to a small summit, elevation 2,900 feet (884 m) as shown photographically in the last picture above, and located on the topo renditions here.

Special thanks to Crow Canyon Journey and Jessica for zoom-in attributes, and Le Conte spelling respectively! M 🙂

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

A Few Favorite images

A few previously unpublished images from the archives – or – what to publish when you are a.) too busy, or b.) at wit’s end (end of wits?) to create anything else!

IMG_4922
Sandy Paws guarding the remote – Northern N.J. 5/4/15
DSC_0493
Tyler guarding the goal, N.J. – 4/25/15
DSC_0721 - Version 3
Gull scrounging for food, Seaside Heights boardwalk, NJ – 5/23/15
DSC_0707
Grazing around at the Senior Equine Retirement Farm, near ATCO, NJ – 5/23/15
DSC_0700
Home for the birds and the buzzin’ bees, Jersey Shore – 5/19/15
DSC_0403
Clouds blowing by the moon on a windy night, Jersey Shore – 2/23/15
DSC_0731 - Version 2
West side of Hudson River, Tompkins Cove, NY – 5/29/15
DSC_0752
Optimism by the Hudson River, Tompkins Cove, N.Y. – 5/29/15

Thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

 

“A Dog and Her Bone” – Las Vegas, Nevada

DSC_0275 - Version 2

The Sands Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV

Proudly Presents:

A DOG and Her BONE

Starring the Canine Crooner

SANDY PAWS SCHULZE

Limited Engagement Only

In the World Famous Copa Room.

19.091     8-72 California Trip, Yosemite to LV  _edited-1

DSC_0082

As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Barks and and Comments are always welcome. M 🙂

Automotive Perfection – The Jaguar XKE

This Post Contains Six Images

2014-09-20 at 15-06-43

Sandy Paws and I agree: its simple, perfectly sculptured curves make this arguably THE most stylistically beautiful production-car ever built.

2014-09-20 at 15-11-24 2014-09-20 at 15-11-08 2014-09-20 at 15-09-55

We had the privilege of absorbing the awesomeness of several of these classics at the “Brits on the Beach” car show in Ocean Grove, NJ recently. 

2014-09-20 at 13-51-22 2014-09-20 at 13-52-59

The car was produced in three major series, from 1961 to 1975, and available in the roadster, or 2+2 coupe.

As usual, the above images can be viewed nicely at higher resolution;

comments, questions, inquiries….are always welcome;

and… Thanks for Viewing 🙂

Three Days of Summer, Sandy Paw’s Winter Get-away (Part 2)

After a couple of long days on the road, we delighted in the warm, wonderful sunshine of South Florida, relishing in outdoor waterside eateries, and soft sandy beaches. Sandy Paws enjoyed exploring new grounds and meeting ODD friends.

Carefully sniffing the fauna on Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel Island

Image

In a small rental boat, we explored backwater mangrove islands,

Image

Colorful waters and condos,

Image

new types of friends,

Image

Image

pristine beaches,

Image

Image

and across “New Channel,” sighted a special beach, … for DOGS!!! (Whoo Hooo!)

Image

Sandy Paws was a little intimidated at first by the BIG dogs playing…

Image

but quickly fell in love with a cute canine friend – a back beach romance.

Image

Unfortunately, it was soon time to go,

Image

stopping first at the doggie shower

Image

and saying goodbye as the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico.

Image

Thanks for visiting. Click on any image for full resolution, and as usual, Likes and Comments are always welcomed.

Dedicated in memory of Shep, Sandy Paw’s best friend…

1500 Miles (2414 km) to “Summer”

Recently in these posts, Sandy Paw’s paws were seen freezing in the icy cold of North Jersey’s winter.    She was sad!Image

So, after a haircut, we drove her 1500 miles (2414 km,) over three days to South Florida, out of reach of yet another winter storm.  She was patient…

Image

pleased with over-night accommodations…

Image

basked in the first warm sunny food stop…

Image

felt revitalized when first dining at waterside restaurants…

Image

and happy as a flying eared puppy when she reached the beaches of Bonita Springs, Florida – with summer-like temperatures and plenty of sunshine!

Image

Be sure to see her fleeting encounter with puppy-love along the Florida gulf coast, and other discoveries, as her vacation continues…  in my next post!

Click on images for full resolution; thanks for viewing; and comments are always encouraged. 

ROMANCING THE…SNOW – Part Two, ENOUGH!

Image

It seems every two days, another “event” has tested our resolve, romanticists included. After the icy images of Part One, the expression on this forlorn squirrel, above – “weathering” a lull at about 8 deg. F (-15 deg. C,) only hints at what was about to come. And he already shows the scars of this winter’s relentless play.

Below: Some 22 hours later, heavy snow is falling on top of existing layers of snow – ice – snow – ice, distributing dangerous weight,Image

…and continuing into the night.Image

The icicle reveals some heating loss from our house…Image

And Sandy Paws (remember her?) navigates the frozen turf, as the brilliant sun spotlights natures latest work.Image

Alisa’s Travel Theme this week is “Romance”