Over the Falls in a barrel

As promised - the vacation within the vacation!

Took a detour on the way home from fishing to see Niagara Falls.

Enjoy some of the photos from our walking tour to see one of North America's finest natural wonders!

Our hotel was very nice and very reasonably priced - just a few steps from Casino Niagara and a hop, skip, and jump from the Falls!

Our Canadian neighbors have done a beautiful job landscaping the walking path along the falls.

You can see the proximity of our hotel using the Casino Niagara tower as a landmark.

The Skylon Tower - next trip I'd love to see the view from the top!

The American Falls

I was excited to see that the binocular stands for closer viewing are still there! I remember these from a trip here as a child. (I think the cost has gone up!)

The illumination station used to light the Falls after dark. Serious wattage here folks!

Me in front of the Canadian Falls: Horseshoe Falls

Be careful! Here be spiders! (Seriously, as we waited for dark when they lit the falls - out came the bugs and spiders to feast on them...The wrought iron provides awesome web building potential!)

Beautiful sunset!

A quick visit to Fallsview Casino

Last but not least - the Sky Wheel. So cool! Next time I'm on it!

One more stop for next time - even John couldn't finish a chocolate dipped in chocolate THAT big!

And no - I didn't really go over the Falls in a barrel - after all, only ten of the seventeen who've tried it survived to tell the tale! Who would have written this post!?

It's Canada, Eh!

We've just returned from another year of Canadian fishing wonderfulness. This year we visited Woodland Echoes Cottage Resort in Magnetawan, Ontario. As usual, we picked a week where "they weren't biting much" but since we just put 'em right back in again, I guess it's all the same in the end.

I've come a long way since the first year John took The Boy and I into the wilds of Quebec. That time we had a propane stove and refrigerator, a wood stove for heat, and there were no electrical outlets, but we did have light from the generator from dusk to midnight - special! And it was only about three hours to the nearest store that sold canned food and beverages - neat! Did I mentioned it rained every day that week? And yet I signed up for a second vacation filled with the same amenities the next year. During that second year I added amateur exterminator to my list of many skills...

Like I say - I've come a long way!

This place was a resort with many activities. Not only did we have power, we had satellite television (my new favorite show is Trailer Park Boys - don't judge!), a jacuzzi tub, fireplace, microwave, and wireless Internet. Yup. Welcome to the new millennium!

Enjoy this random photo montage prepared especially for my friends here in Bloglandia! Um, you may want to get a frosty beverage while they load!

big (enough) sky country!

tether-ball anyone?

lovely gardens all about the grounds

ah... sunset!

morning herbal tea on my Adirondack chair

meet my new guy for mani-pedies

I think the black queen is looking at me...

just dipping in my toes

mink!

can't get enough of these awesome skies

morning comes to the dock

steam boat tours

one of my loonie friends

an end to another gorgeous day

our neighbors the ducks

you should know by now that I can't resist a flower

hello Mr Bee!

Freddie Froggy

(don't ask John how many shots I took to get this one...)

birdwatching

more flora

Mr Blue Jay

seriously, I sat for about 30 minutes waiting to get this shot of the hummingbird, wondering if it would even come back! it is awful - but I'm claiming it anyway! he's right there in the upper left in front of the flower... really.

this more sensible model posed much better

brightly colored sails

and another brilliant sky!

Next up: the vacation within the vacation! Stay tuned!

My cup runneth empty

The Boy is fond of telling me lately that girls are the devil.

He is very bright - but confused. It is not girls that are the devil: coffee is the devil.

Now do not get me wrong here... I have spent many a morning worshiping at the altar of the percolator. Okay, afternoons and evenings too.

Straight up black no sugar that is the way I take it. But I will not turn my nose up at a nice latte or cappuccino or espresso or fancy flavored iced coffee or you know, anything with copious amounts of caffeine.

But I recently decided that I must give it up. If I get too much - it's not cool. Too little? Very not cool.

I did a fast last spring and actually became physically ill from lack of caffeine. Coupled with the migraines I went through you would think I'd have stayed off the junk.

But no.

I put that monkey right up there on my back again. Tight grip too, I'll tell you. Apparently, I am not capable of being a social caffeine indulger. It's like heroin for me - just a little taste and it's over with.

So I gave it up. One more time.

No coffee, no diet coke, no ice tea, not even Excedrin.

Not even the fake unleaded kind.

I've been clean for about three weeks. Is there a chip for that? For that matter is there an entire 12 step program?

Let me know.

I can still go to Starbucks for the Indulgent Chocolate Cookies right? And Lemon Loaf?

And maybe a decaf latte.

Someone better call my sponsor, just in case.

Saturday Night with the Boys

Spent last Saturday night with my family and friends in downtown Cleveland. We started off at the Rockbottom Brewery where The Boy and I both tried the beer sampler. Pretty interesting trying each one and seeing how the flavors change.

From lightest to darkest we have Cleveland American Light, Walleye Wheat, Powerhouse Pale Ale, Riverbend Red, Dawg Pound Brown, and Terminal Stout. To my surprise, I enjoyed the stout quite a bit.

Now if I could just get someone to provide me with a sampler of fine whiskeys... a bourbon, scotch, single malt, double malt, Kentucky, Irish - I am serious - what does it all mean?

Then it was off to see the show on the Nautica Stage. A very excellent place to see a concert. An outdoor venue with the river backing the stage and the city just beyond.

The opening bands were actually very easy to listen to. Often the bands are of the "growler" type with too much bass, poser guitars, and singers who don't sing. This time we were treated to Icarus Witch and Coheed & Cambria. The latter broke out into a bit of Iron Maden's the Trooper which was well recieved, and they also did a tune with a theremin. I spent most of the evening trying to remember the name of that instrument I kept thinking "therm, therm, what!?!?" Remembered it driving down the expressway the next day. Just popped into my head.

And then came: Heaven and Hell

Here we have Tony Iommi, otherwise known as The Master... ruler of the guitar.

and the whole gang: Geezer Butler on bass, Ronnie James Dio vocals, and Vinne Appice on drums.

Dio singing the penultimate "Heaven and Hell" watch out for those flames!

It was a good night. The Indians won and so did the Browns. Some might even consider it a miracle.

I love this city at night... someday I'm going to take a thousand pictures of the lights and the energy.

I love my boy too.

Life is just a carousel, spinning fast you've got to ride it well, it's heaven and hell...

Weekend in the Country

A scrapbooking weekend in Holmes County, Berlin, Ohio at Zinck's Inn: We awake to a beautiful, hazy sunrise.

Many sites to see around the Inn and at the nearby shops.

color moved by the wind...

nature, prickly and perfect...

reflections to catch your gaze...

a view of the neighboring farm...

corn - up close and personal...

restful respite...

handmade baskets...

fences can be lovely...

and oh yes... we found the scrapbooking store!

All my crafty friends: Rachel, Christina, Deb, Patti, Terri, and me. These girls are the best - always willing to share their toys, embellishments, and stories...

We really did get a lot accomplished, especially the hard work of having a blast and enriching friendships(What ketchup bottle? I have no idea what you're talking about!!)

Can't wait until we do it again!

Flowers from a Boy!

Yes ladies and gentlemen, The Husband is getting quite the reputation as a "flower sender."

These arrived just in time for my birthday!

(if you look closely at the background, you can also see my famed Superball collection which contains many other prized gifts from the husband. Had to move it recently to a more spacious container to accommodate new additions...)

Also scheduled for this evening's festivities are dinner and a movie - at my request.

Finally going to see Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince.

Yea me!