A couple of weeks ago (yeah, it's been that long) I took Cinder to the vet for her yearly check-up and shots. After $200 worth of shots, tests, and for Dr. Minor to tell me that she is in good shape except she needs dental work desperately with a $350 - $550 estimate as to the cost, I took the time after leaving this place that seems to be sucking away at my money to drive through a forest preserve with camera in hand.
OK the first thing I spotted, even backed the car for this one, was this scene. If the snow would have been tan, I could swear I was at the beach and just over that hill was the ocean.
And then I came upon this....
Just like those fences that I seek out when I do get to the ocean....never expecting to find them in the next town over in a forest preserve with no ocean in sight....
PS I took this at the beach in Galveston in October....I obviously had beach envy rattling around in my head on this cold, snow-covered day.
I found this purty tree....
And this...not so much beauty here just interesting with the outline of all the trees....
A couple of things to recommend. I saw "Whiplash" - terrific acting by J K Simmons, hard to watch at times, but brilliant acting by both Simmons and Miles Teller (the drummer & student). And I finished reading "Orange is the New Black" for bookclub. Now I will admit that in hearing and reading about the Netflix production I was a bit hesitant to read this, but it was actually quite good. Very little "language", no Lesbian encounters, just the story of a pretty, white, well-off, supportive family, and well educated woman that made a mistake who was sent to prison and her life, her relationships, her support system and her realization of the injustices to women caught up in the prison system. One of my friends has been watching "Orange is the New Black" and said it is like watching porn....I guarantee the book is NOT anything like the TV show.
Now I am reading "The Girl On the Train" what a page turner. I am about 1/2 way thru the book and can't wait to return which I will do later today. Next up..."One Plus One" by Jo Jo Moyes, I absolutely loved her last book, "Me Before You" so hoping this one is as good.
Hope you are having a good year so far and hope you all stay well....having the flu at Christmas was not fun.
Until next time.....
Good to see you here Deanna! I'm bound to get back into the blog business one of these days too. I think it's great that you are having fun with your phone. Gotta mix it up a little bit. Meanwhile, may I borrow your camera and lenses? Ha, just kidding. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Deanna, I just got a sample of The Girl on the Train on my Kindle. I liked One Plus One. The Grands are here now and 2 have colds, so I'm washing my hands a lot. I do think you need to visit a beach again! I think I do, too.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh! Have been thinking about Girl on a the Train. I shall definitely put it on my list now. I'm working my way through PD James' Dalgliesh stories. I've never read her books but after reading her obit, I became interested. Not my favorite, my good reads. My sister and a couple of friends have long liked her work. You know me, always slow on the pick up. I have One Plus One on the list but haven't read it yet. Now, your photos - yes, I'm with you. Were the snow not so obviously snow that would look like a beach path. Poor little Cinder. :(
ReplyDeleteGood to see you here, Deanna! I miss you when you're not around.
I always appreciate your book reviews! Our dog has very few teeth left, his short muzzle makes them prone to decay. Last week, after a few days of illness, we learned for $250 that he had a stomach ache. It's hard to spend the money, but I assume you agree, they our ours responsibility...and we love them. And I thought the kids were expensive. I too have used my iPhone more than I thought I would, but nothing beats the clarity of my DSLR. We were in Batavia last weekend and hope to visit our kids and the arboretum soon. If you and a friend ever want to visit this area of Wisconsin, come on up! Seriously! PS the snow sure looked like sand, if only in our dreams!
ReplyDeletethe snow fence brought back fond memories of my wisconsin childhood. those old, weathered strips woven into that wire. my sis and i made picture frames from the wooden slats. :)
ReplyDeleteThose shots look almost like the white sands of the southeastern coast.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful pictures. "Girl on the Train" is on my reserve list at the library. It will probably be July when I get it, but I'm looking forward to it. Take good care!
ReplyDeleteLove the snow shot- it really does almost look "beachy"... I would love to use my iphone more, but the photos are just awful..I need a newer version I guess, but not ready to upgrade yet.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful fence shot. And I seriously thought you were at the beach!
ReplyDeleteI always glean so much info from your post and pictures. Um, the beach - amazing! The books, good to know about "orange" and I have to keep "the girl on the train" tucked away for my next read. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteYou are such an amazing writer! Love these images!
ReplyDeleteI really like your fence pictures, what is it about fences that draws me in . . .
ReplyDeletePurity tree was the delight . . . I had to back and look, I thought it was called, the Party Tree.
Could be, with that cluster of cones.
Such delight are your words and pictures.
I mst say . . . Thank You . . .
Darn iPad . . .
ReplyDeleteGo
Must
I think you'll understand . . .
I ALWAYS love your photos when you are "wasting your time". LOL! The beach would be a great place to be today wouldn't it. I just finished Girl On a Train and really enjoyed it. Surprise ending and hope you are not like I am and read the end before the rest of the book. Hugs to you and hope your Sunday is a great one.
ReplyDeleteYour "beach" shots are uncanny! I adore that fence, and the tree branch - just lovely. Did you get my e-mail letting you know that we are only in AZ until the 6th of Feb? Sorry to have missed you, Deanna.
ReplyDeleteI love your photos! It's kind of funny that when we were in Florida, I took much the same shots of the white sandy beach and taunted my friends back home by assuring them that it wasn't snow. I've been thinking about "The Girl on the Train," but haven't bitten yet. I'm sure it's in my future.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are back; we miss you....I am so sorry about Cinder. Not only does it cost lots of money but it's so painful for them...I hope Toby is in good shape....Your "beach" scenes are so realistic...I guess it's about this time of year we start to think of warm weather and the ocean waves and your photographs certainly fit the bill. We can image the water..hahahaha Glad for the book reviews. I haven't had time to read much lately but I always write your suggestions down so I'll have titles when I have a chance to read.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful pics. I can see why you have beach envy, they do remind me a lot of the shoreline dunes.
ReplyDeleteI would have sworn you snuck in some beach time on those first couple of pictures - neat! I've watched 'Orange is the New Black' and once you get past the gratuitous sex (which on so many shows lately seems superfluous), it is a good story. You actually get to know the characters and care about them, which is more than I can say for the show "Girls" - I have yet to even like any of the characters and talk about superfluous sex ...
ReplyDeleteSo many wonderful photos my friend. I enjoyed reading what you have been up too. Living life in an RV lets us to be at the beach this time of year.. I am blessed.
ReplyDeleteHugs~
Deanna,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you and the "kiddos" are doing good.
I read "The Girl On the Train" a while ago and it is good. Per your recommendation I read "Me Before You." After that good read I have several Jo Jo Moyes books in my Amazon Wish List.
Have you read any of Sue Monk Kidd's 3 books? "The Secret Life of Bees" is one of my all time favorites. Last week I read "The Invention of Wings," it too was excellent.
Your photos are gorgeous, Deanna!
ReplyDeleteI just love your photos ... so lovely.
ReplyDeleteI have been doing quite a bit of reading lately ... but all about the grieving process.
Stay healthy and happy.
diane @ thoughts & shots
Hi Deanna, I'm catching up from all the posts I missed while being so sick last week. It was a pleasure to stop in here. Loving your photos. These would have been awesome to share with Good Fences. - The books you read sound interesting. I may have to check them out.
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