Sunny Day Adventures

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Easter Friday was such a glorious sunny day that hubby and I decided to go for a walk. We chose a new spot along the coast, where the gorse was blazing in all its golden coconut-scented glory.

The path seemed to go on forever...

But tantalising views kept luring us on...

Could you resist a view like this?

The way down wasn't without hazards. These rocks and pebbles were wonderful to look at, but not so great to walk on!

Here's the view looking out from where I stood on those pebble-stones. You can see how they spread out into the rock pools.

Beyond the pebbles and the rocks the beach was calling...

...a gateway into a secret world.

...with the most amazing cliffs of yellow and amber sandstone.

Just look at those colours! They were even brighter in real life without the sun glare bleaching them out.

On the cliffs we could see tiny white spots... seabirds nesting. They weren't seagulls - the were Fulmars - cousins of the Albatross and Petrels.

I went for a wade through the rock pools...

The water was so clear you can hardly see where this seaweed is beneath the water and where it is still on dry sand.

It was a perfectly magical day on a perfectly magical beach.

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Aberdeen in Bloom

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Dad had to see the lung specialists this Wednesday. That meant a trip through to Aberdeen for a three hour visit to the hospital while dad had various breathing tests and X rays. He's been a bit better every visit so they only want to see him again in six months time.

This is the first time any of us have been in Aberdeen at springtime. We were all amazed at how different it looked from our autumn/winter visits. Virtually every bit of bare land along the city streets was crammed full of daffodils.

It was a warm misty morning that slowly cleared into a glorious spring day.



You can still see it's misty here...



but starting to clear.







The flowering cherry trees were breath-taking too.
I got the chance to photograph this one at some traffic lights.



and a close up...



We finished our visit with ice cream at the beach front before heading back home. It was a very good day. :-)
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Daffodil Daze

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A few weeks ago we took some visiting family for a drive around the area where we live. We stopped off at Baxters Highland Village, where they make all sorts of delicious things from soups to preserves. It's a really beautiful area. The whole factory and shopping complex is surrounded by river (Spey), parkland and countryside.

Here's the view of the Spey from their visitors parking area.

...and this is where I was standing taking that photo,
on steps going up the hill between grassy banks overflowing daffodils.
Golden yellow ones...



...and white ones.



I never knew there were so many different types of daffodils!

These below were really weird - shaped like little yellow trumpets.



And the difference in sizes amazes me too. These below were really big...



...but this one was so tiny I nearly missed it hidden in a bed of tulips.
I held the stem so you can see my hand size in comparison.



I was in a daffodil daze! ;-)

I took the last photo of daffodils a week later, in the town of Forres.
It's the one I have used for my April Banner.



I just love the combination of colours in this flower tub.
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The Porcelain Unicorn

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A friend sent me this thought-provoking mini-movie.

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Yesterday, Tomorrow... Today

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Yesterday, Tomorrow...

Tomorrow we bury my mother-in-law. I've tried a dozen times to write a post about her leaving us, but nothing seems to fit. She was here, just a few days ago, now she's gone. As much as we'll all miss her I'm glad it's over. The hospital staff were wonderful and made her last month as bright and gentle as possible, but waiting to die is never going to be an easy journey.

Tomorrow I'll have new stories to tell and memories of all those Yesterdays to share, but Today I'm finding myself thinking about how often we forget that Today really is a gift...

... so this video is for all my friends and family who have battled cancer and won... or lost. However many Todays your life gives you, may you find Love, Peace and Joy in every single one.

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A Golden Moment

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Today is my mom and dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary. :-)


glitter-graphics.com
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What a Trip!

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Yesterday I had the nicest surprise - an email from the travel website Tripbase:

Tripbase Awards 2011

I am pleased to inform you that your site has been chosen to receive a Tripbase 2011 Blog Award.

This year our panel of judges reviewed hundreds of sites from across the Internet before hand-selecting the best ten for each travel category. Your site is among these elite ranks, and can be seen here:

http://www.tripbase.com/d/awards/2011/categories/winners/scotland.htm

I would like to congratulate you on your continued hard work and achievement in winning a Tripbase Award - this year, the awards have been featured in CNBC, CBS and AOL News. We have created small and large badges for you to show off your achievement to your readers, so please feel free to grab the code and upload it onto your site.

Tripbase Awards Badge">
www.Tripbase.com

Well done once again, and keep up the great work.

I really can say it was a 'trip' to read that email. Every blogger wants to be recognised as writing stuff worth reading. We wouldn't be here if we didn't want to be read - we'd be at home writing in journals. To have your own readers leave positive comments will always be the most rewarding, but there's no denying that being recognised beyond your regular friends and readers truly is a thrill. Thank you Tripbase. :-)

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Happy Birthday

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If I had words to make a day for you,
I'd sing you a morning, golden and new,
I would make this day last for all time,
Give you a night dipped in moon shine...

Happy Birthday Sweetheart

X X X X X
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