Something to Look at Sunday... and to Think About

There are a couple of things in life that feel like throw-backs to another time to me.  Every time I go see a live musical I feel an overwhelming sense of emotion.  Not just because of the incredible talent and great songs, but because of the crowd.  I LOVE that so many people still enjoy live theater performances (and shows like Glee!)... that we didn't let it die out long ago with the passing of the greats like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, or the advent of dramatic movies and reality television.  

The Farmer's Market is another one of those things that restores my faith in (some of) the human race.  There are still people who want to "keep it real"... grow things the way they were meant to be grown!  Sure the produce in these pictures are beat up, but they're chemical free, and they taste BETTER.  Show your support to your local growers and visit a farmer's market! 

Something To Look At Sunday - Harry Potter World Photos!

 A few weeks ago, hubs, my dad, and I went to Orlando for some fun at the parks.  We met my grandma there and had a great time (she is 71 and likes roller coasters more than I do!!).  Here are a few pictures from the trip... just for funsies. 

Stitch is one of my favorite Disney characters (probably because I can imitate his voice... lol).  Here he sits in pirate garb on top of the largest Disney store, at Downtown Disney.  He spits water out as you walk by.

The famous ball at Disney's Epcot (our favorite Disney park).  The ride inside of this thing is extremely lame, but the outside makes for interesting photos!

The Universal parks are the big draw to Orlando for my family.  There is the original Universal Studios park, and the "newer" Islands of Adventure.  Both parks are incredible, and there seems to be something new to see every time we visit. 

The last time I was here, this coaster, the Rip Ride Rockit, wasn't even halfway done being built yet.  We actually got to watch them connect a piece of the track... amazing.  Now the coaster is in full swing and it's quite the ride.  That section going straight up in the air, that's where the ride starts.  You are laying flat on your back until you tip over the top and zoom down.   And that first loop... you start going upside down, but are quickly twisted up over the top.  

You get to choose a song to have blasted in your ears, and you can't help but sing along.  At the end of the ride you discover you've been recorded on video the entire time.  Hilarious.

To my disappointment, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter won't open until June 18 (guess I'll have to plan another trip!), but I did get to take some photos.  Here is Hogwarts Castle, which houses the super secret new attraction.  I can't wait to learn what it is.

Another view of Hogwarts.  Seriously... there's no way to describe to you how massive this structure is.  You can see it from the City Walk before you even enter the park.

Here is a photo of Hogsmeade.  It's incredible to see a villiage so near and dear to our reader hearts come to life.  Absolutely amazing.  The snow even glistens in the sunlight!!!

The entrance to Hogsmeade.

Here is evidence that it's still under construction.  Sigh.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the glimpse into the upcoming attraction!  I can't wait for it to open!

Happy Sunday!!

Something to Look at Sunday!

A preview of coming attractions...

This is the banner I made for my new Etsy store!! What do you think?

Click on it to see it better :)

The plan for my Etsy store, KristinCreative, is to sell copies of my photography (a small sample of which you can see on my banner, and some of you have seen in previous Sunday posts), original oil paintings, prints of my watercolor paintings, and maybe some scarves as we get closer to fall.

I don't have any listings yet, as I'm still waiting on an order from the photo lab.  Gotta test these things out, because sometimes the difference between what you see on the computer screen and what comes out on paper are completely different.

So hopefully by next week I'll be up and running.  I'll make a big announcement and give you all the link!!  I'm super excited about this venture!  

Thank you to my 200 followers!!  Giveaway announcement coming soon!!

Happy Sunday!

Something To Look At Sunday

The Azaleas have been in full swing these past two weeks, and they are beautiful!!

When the sun just started dipping low, I ran outside with my camera.

Look how they glow!

The large bushes on the side of the house are three varieties of pink (I'm pretty sure they're over 20 years old... these things are HUGE), and last year we planted some short red ones in front, but they are JUST starting to bloom so I don't have pictures of them yet.  

This is the window box in my kitchen above the sink.  What a lovely view of the neighbor's wall I have while washing dishes.  Blah.  I can't wait to have land and an actual garden.

Friday, I took a half day and hit up the local Home Depot nursery for some new pots and herbs!

TOP L to R: Oregano that I dug up from last year's failed garden attempt (I was out in the yard a few days ago and saw oregano growing where I'd planted the seends LAST YEAR! What a nice surprise!), Basil (thought I had a bigger pot for them... have to go back to the store... darn), Parsley and Cilantro, and pink Impatients left on my porch by a local church as their Easter service advertisement.

BOTTOM: Rosemary, Azalea cuttings, and fake purple flower sprigs leftover from my wedding long ago. lol.

Happy Sunday!

*All photographs are property of Kristin Rae and may not be used or duplicated without written permission.

Happy Easter! Something to Watch Sunday!

I hope everyone haves a Happy Easter!

I know today really has absolutely nothing to do with baby bunnies and eggs, but I stumbled across this video, and had to share. It has to be the most sickeningly cute video ever.

Enjoy!

See more funny videos and Cute Animals Videos at Today's Big Thing.

God bless you and your family :)

Something To Look at Sunday

Spring is officially here!
And my sneezing and sinus pressure is proof!
And so are these lovely flowers!

Enjoy!

The biggest bee I've ever seen. I was a bit too close to him for comfort to get these shots, but I figured he was more interested in the flowers.

Snapdragons!

I hope everyone has a fabulous Sunday!
I am staring longingly out my window to a sunny and breezy day, but I know to stay outside for too long will mean watery, puffy eyes and an even worse headache.
Why is it the two times of year with the nicest weather makes me miserable???

I hope your allergies are being nice to you this year!
And if you don't have allergies, well, I don't want to know.

*All photographs are property of Kristin Rae and may not be used or duplicated without written permission.

Something To Look At Sunday - Maui

I almost ignored that today was Something To Look At Sunday so that I could vent. But then I thought better of it. I need a day to completely work thoughts through my head and approach a plan of attack rationally. So I'll share my plight tomorrow... possibly.

What I do need, is to calm my nerves. And what's more relaxing than waves crashing on the shore? Enjoy these pictures from a trip to Maui, Hawaii.

Felice Domenica!

*All photographs are property of Kristin Rae and may not be used or duplicated without written permission.

Something to Look at Sunday?! Ya, mon!

Wa gwan?!

As some of you may or may not have noticed, I've been absent from the blogs (though I was everso sneaky by scheduling a few posts--still catching up on those great comments from the post about writing on a schedule... good stuff!).

I have good reason for my absence!

This morning, I was here:
Jamaica!


Hubs was a groomsman in a destination wedding! (Yes, he's a foot taller than me... when we took the group picture, the photographer said I couldn't stand next to him, and he moved me to the other side next to people I didn't know! haha)

So sweet...

Instead of rice, we threw flower petals!

The water of the Caribbean is unlike any other place. Pictures can't even capture the true color.

Last night's sunset.

Another photo of last night's sunset.

We had a great time in Negril. The weather was hot and humid (nothing I'm not used to, being from Houston), but the breeze made it just right. Our Jamaican hosts were wonderful, the wedding went off with only one repeated hitch... during the reception, the power to the resort was knocked out several times! The band was jammin'! (And also pulled too much electricity!)

It was a great experience... I have the sunburn on my nose and shoulders to prove it!

So what does "Wa gwan?" mean? Any guesses?

*All photographs are property of Kristin Rae and may not be used or duplicated without written permission.

Something to Look at Sunday

The weekend before my birthday, hubs and I went out to the lake for some R&R. Saturday we hit up Texas' biggest outlet mall on the way, and took in a movie. Sunday's weather started out a little misty and dreary, but eventually cleared into a near-cloudless day, getting up to 80 degrees, and I even got a little pink!

Here are a few pictures of Canyon Lake and the area around it.

Canyon Lake is fed by the Guadalupe River. The outflow is a huge draw for tubing during the Spring and Summer months. Last year we had such a drought, the tubers had to walk some of the way. As of two weeks ago, the lake is at full capacity for the first time in several years. It's going to be a great season!

This lake really does have some of the clearest water I've seen, as it's all filtered through rock. The color appears a gorgeous blue-green, and when swimming, you can see your feet.

This was taken on the other side of the dam, just after the power plant. Creepy.

Our state bird, the Mockingbird.

These little guys are everywhere this part of Texas.

This is part of the gorge that was naturally created during the flood of 2002 when the lake water flowed over the spillway. We haven't done a hiking tour of it yet, but we plan to.

Breakfast!! Inch-thick blueberry pancakes! We eat here every time we go to the lake.

Hubby likes his plain. I took the picture before he drowned it in syrup.

Happy Sunday!

*All photographs are property of Kristin Rae and may not be used or duplicated without written permission.

Something to Look at Sunday

If you were like me yesterday, you spent a couple of hours in front of the TV watching the footage of yet another earthquake that took hundreds of lives, and braced for the impact of a tsunami headed for Hawaii, which thankfully was very minor.
Why are these earthquakes becoming such frequent occurrences? Why is our earth feeling the need to shift around so much? It's fascinating to learn about the science of it all... if only it didn't cause so much death and destruction.

Haiti update: I have gotten word from Compassion International (the child sponsorship program that I go through), and Dana, whom I've sponsored in Haiti for years now, is thought to be safe, as she did not live in the affected area. I'm still waiting to hear from her directly, but I'm sure the entire country is experiencing delays in communications. Nevertheless, I'm thankful for the news I've received.
My prayers are still with the people of Haiti, as well as the people of Chile.

Watching the coverage of Hawaii yesterday got me thinking a lot about, well, Hawaii. They kept showing places and I'd say, OH! I've been there! And there! And there!
Hawaii is dear to me, as I've visited four times so far, and have made it to the four major islands: Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui.
For today's Something to Look at Sunday, I thought I'd pay homage to these beautiful islands with some photos from my travels there. Enjoy!

A lighthouse viewed from the top of Diamond Head - Oahu

A section of the USS Arizona still sticking up out of the water, at the Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor - Oahu

Luau - Maui

Flame thrower at Luau - Maui

Ship off the coast of Maui

We went to an orchid farm on the big island of Hawaii

One of my favorite places in the world, Keanae, along the Road to Hana - Maui

The trunk of a Rainbow Eucalyptus tree.

Don't forget, today is the LAST day to enter my Birthday Contest!!

Felice Domenica!

*All photographs are property of Kristin Rae and may not be used or duplicated without written permission.