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.
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.
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A few previously unpublished images from the archives – or – what to publish when you are a.) too busy, or b.) at wit’s end (end of wits?)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!
Thanks for viewing. Comments are always welcome. M 🙂
The Sands Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV
Proudly Presents:
Starring the Canine Crooner
Limited Engagement Only
In the World Famous Copa Room.
As usual, click on the image for a closer look, and thanks for viewing. Barks and and Comments are always welcome. M 🙂
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Sandy Paws is no stranger to this site, having been featured before, as here and here
We consider her… THE BEST! (At least that’s what we tell her!)
Thanks for viewing, and Sandy has promised to respond to any comments. M 🙂
This Post Contains Six Images
Sandy Paws and I agree: its simple, perfectly sculptured curves make this arguably THE most stylistically beautiful production-car ever built.
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.
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 🙂
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
In a small rental boat, we explored backwater mangrove islands,
Colorful waters and condos,
new types of friends,
pristine beaches,
and across “New Channel,” sighted a special beach, … for DOGS!!! (Whoo Hooo!)
Sandy Paws was a little intimidated at first by the BIG dogs playing…
but quickly fell in love with a cute canine friend – a back beach romance.
Unfortunately, it was soon time to go,
stopping first at the doggie shower
and saying goodbye as the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico.
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…
Recently in these posts, Sandy Paw’s paws were seen freezing in the icy cold of North Jersey’s winter. She was sad!
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…
pleased with over-night accommodations…
basked in the first warm sunny food stop…
felt revitalized when first dining at waterside restaurants…
and happy as a flying eared puppy when she reached the beaches of Bonita Springs, Florida – with summer-like temperatures and plenty of sunshine!
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.
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,
…and continuing into the night.
The icicle reveals some heating loss from our house…
And Sandy Paws (remember her?) navigates the frozen turf, as the brilliant sun spotlights natures latest work.
Alisa’s Travel Theme this week is “Romance”