Random Pictures

 Some random bits and bobs from this summer!

I hosted many library programs this summer.  It's summertime at the library.  For one program, I froze a lot of plastic toys in ice, and then the kids had to get the toys out of the ice.  In the picture below, you are looking at yellow building blocks encased in ice!  This was part of a larger Dog Man program.  This particular activity was entitled "Save the Town"! (If you've read Dog Man, you know.)

Bubblepalooza!

We found this old movie projector at a museum.  

It's a Kodak, and at one time, it was in a small movie theater.

Modern projectors are so large, this one kind of blew my mind.

Obligatory July 4 fireworks photo!

The welcome to the World Cup Games at the Kansas City airport.

Hawaii

I could bore you all with a detailed account of our trip to Hawaii, but I won't do that.  It was lovely.  A week on Oahu and a week on Hawaii.  I'm going to do a quick, random recap of our time there.  We rented condos while we were there, so we were able to cook.  We picked up food from the Farmer's Markets and in China Town.  We cooked and ate locally grown food - we did not expect to eat anything we would normally eat on the mainland.  The fruit was amazing! We ate lunch out occasionally while we were exploring. The food trucks are amazing, and the little family owned restaurants make the best food!

 

Hilo Farmers Market

One of the healthiest salads I've ever eaten!

Chinatown in Honolulu

We arrived on the Big Island the day after the volcano stopped erupting.  She had been fountaining lava the day before we arrived.  We landed on the big island and *fizzle* there was a glow of lava, and so much steam from the steam vents.  But no lava.  We explored everything we could safely explore in Volcanoes National Park.  We walked out to see the Petroglyphs.  We drove to the ends of all the roads.  We explored the lava tunnels.  We went back at night to see the red glow. It was awesome!

We spent time in Hilo - the rainiest city in the United States.  It lived up to it's reputation!  But all of that rain leads to a lush and verdant rainforest and the most amazing waterfalls.  Loved every single minute of exploring those trails. Drove through the middle of the island between the two volcanoes and around the island. We did not begin to see everything there was to see.  We only scratched the surface.

Lili'uokalani Gardens

Wailuku River after a Storm.

Sitting on the seawall in Kona, looking out across the Bay.

Huli-hee Palace, Kona

Oahu is amazing. We went to the North Shore and watched the big waves. Ate Poke.  Visited Pearl Harbor. Had Shave Ice.  Hiked through still more beautiful rainforests and saw still more beautiful waterfalls. Went up to the National Cemetery of the Pacific. Had a formal tea.  Ate Malasadas. 

We found this gem when roaming through the Sheraton Lobby.

Ocean literally 100 feet away from where I took this picture!

The Byodo-In Temple
Jason Momoa posted pictures from here earlier this week.

Waimea Falls

I wish I remembered where I took this picture.
Honestly, it reminds me of Gilligan's Island!

But by far, my favorite part of Hawaii is how every single person stops to watch the sunset every night.  It is an event.  We went down to the ocean - and so did so many other people - and sat down with the crowd.  I am still in awe of how every single person was united in that moment of beauty - just stopping whatever they were doing to watch the sun go down.  We all need to do more of that.

Random Pictures

 

Lots of floors Llamas!

But don’t play with them!

I stopped at the Wawa for gas and saw this. 

Just what exactly is that thing?

It looks really cool!

I got to attend a virtual talk with Jason Reynolds!

He’s one of my all time favorite authors!

Snow in the hood!

Cat!

Every single one of Moms meals at the hospital was served with a beautiful flower on the tray. 

I really like this meme….

Not sure what these are, but they are beautiful!

Random San Antonio Pictures

 

This adorable squirrel was playing peek a boo with us!

The Mercado!

Ah, the Riverwalk! It’s was 78*. In January. At home in Maryland, it was 12*. 

More Riverwalk. This is my Moms favorite spot on the River. 

The original bells from the Mission, on display down at the River. 

San Fernando Cathedral..

The Tea Garden at Breckinridge Park.

The Alamo! Above & below!

Random Pictures

 So many images to share!  I've taken these over the last couple of months around our part of Maryland.

2020 Bingo.  I did NOT get a bonus for "Fill the Card", but I did Bingo several differnt ways.  We did remodel a room in the house.  I did buy a kiddie pool for the carport over the summer, and did sit out there several nice days and enjoy the water.  Joined in a Car Parade to bid farewell to our pastor, don't want to talk about the toilet paper.  (We're seriously looking at installing a bidet when we renovate the Master Bathroom.) Our summer vacation was to a Delaware Beach. Among the many live stream concerts we attended, Straight No Chaser's Christmas Concert was my favorite.  

 

I was gifted this little kitten litter box by a very good friend.  I keep it on my desk at work. It comes with a tiny little rake, and on very stressful days, I pull out the cats and their rocks and rake the sand. It truly is very Zen.

We used to live near this lake.  Pushing the kids around this lake in a stroller was my primary form of exercise for years.  We stopped by a couple of weeks ago to walk around the lake. You wanna know something funny?  It's a whole lot easier to walk the 2.5 miles around the lake when you are NOT pushing a stroller!

Walking around a pond in Gaithersburg at sunset. Such a gorgeous sunset!

Hermie adores her feathery sticks!  We had just gotten a new one from Chewy.  I thought I had stashed it where she couldn't get it, but she pulled open the drawer where I had stashed it and pulled it out.  She is one very determined little cat!

Last one for today - I found this in an Amazon Ad on Facebook.  A Bubble Pea Pod Carrier?  For a cat?  I want to know if anyone has successfully managed to use one of these with a cat.  Or unsuccessfully tried to use one.  I would love to hear your story!  I can just imagine a pissed off cat face pressed up against that clear plastic bubble, terrorizing the villagers.

Random Pictures

The Madness has begun!

Performance Art, courtesy of Hobbes.

A grown up tutu!  I wore it for Candy Land!

Leftovers from a painting night at the Ceramic Studio!

Peace Garden at Bon Secours.

Hobbes!