Getting Ready for the Alzheimer's Walk in Dad's Honor...

This coming Thursday I leave for California.  Our family is walking in the Alzheimer's Walk in Huntington Beach, CA on Saturday November 3, 2013.  

My preparation?  Walking my dog once or twice a day...There is a 2 mile and a 4 mile walk, but I can do 4 miles easy. (I hope).  We'll all be walking and talking, pushing the nephews and grand sons in strollers and the time will fly by.

Mom is not sure if she can find her fold up camping chair so she can sit on the side of the road and cheer us on...depends on the weather.  I know she wants to be with us, but there is no way she could walk it.  If we can get our hands on a wheel chair, we could push her...

My grand son turned 9 years old yesterday.  He was THRILLED he passed the height test so he could ride the bumper cards at the fun place he chose to go for his celebration.  I am looking forward to seeing him, along with the 11 year old and the newest grand son who is coming up on 7 months. He's a turbo-crawler and is pulling himself up into a standing position at the couch and then holding on with one hand, attemping to take a step.  He so wants to walk and run like his big brothers...

My youngest daughter is pregnant again and we were all surprised to learn she is having a GIRL!  My first grand daughter.  Her 3 year old son Jacob is getting more excited about being a big brother to a baby sister. My daughter is due in April, 2014.  This pink bundle will make my fifth grand child!!

I've been lying low and taking it easy this month and it feels good.  Since the weather has cooled off I have been re-focusing on de-cluttering.  I really want to clean out our garage so I can have the option to park my car in there if I want to.

We celebrated our 4 year Adoption Day for our rescue dog Izzy.  I gave her a bath, took her for some walks, got her some chew treats, a new toothbrush, a jacket and a bag of Greenies.  She's a happy girl.

We also celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary by going to a movie (Captain Philips) and to see Big Elvis. For years Big Elvis has been at Bill's Gamblin' Hall but due to their renovations, moved to Harrah's and does three shows a day, four days a week.  The FREE shows are 2:00 pm, 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  His show at the Piano Bar inside Harrah's is dark on Wednesday and the weekends.
He really sounds like Elvis, but does the entire show sitting in his throne and occasionally stands up to do a short shimmy or Elvis move.... He really sounds like Elvis and puts on a great show.  We had a really good time.  If you come to Vegas, you should check it out.  He has won first place in yearly Elvis Impersonation Contests.

We also went to the MOB MUSEUM in downtown Vegas.  It is housed in the old Federal Building where the Mafia trials were held.  It is three stories of memorabilia and interactive displays and videos.  We spent over three hours in there.  We went to celebrate my husband's birthday.  We both really enjoyed it.  We get a Local discount and got in for $10 each.  Once you pay the entry fee, you get a band on your wrist and can park there all day as long as the museum is open and go in and out in case you get hungry and want to go downtown and get some lunch.  Another Vegas attraction worth a visit...

I will post pictures of the walk upon my return.

Doing My Civil Duty...

I had Jury Duty today.  I was scheduled at noon.  I sat and read for a couple of hours and then struck up a conversation with two other women for the remainder of the day.  We were released at 4:30pm.  I have served my civil duty for the next two more years...

During the wait, my youngest daughter sent me a pic of my youngest grandson via my phone.  ADORABLE!!  She had just dried him off from a bath. It shows his face with the hoodie towel over his head...I will post it once I figure how to load it from my phone to my computer...

I'm so pooped....don't even know if I can stay awake for Dancing With The Stars...

The Bellagio Conservatory Spring Exhibit & Flamingo Habitat....

Yesterday, my hubby and I went to visit the Bellagio Conservatory and the Flamingo Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel/Casino.

Here are some my photographs from the Spring Exhibit at the Bellagio:

These bronze ant sculptures were done by Artist Susan P. Cochran to reprsent the ideals of cooperation and teamwork.  In some of the photos, you can see how it gives one the sense of seeing the garden from an ant's perspective.

An ant carrying a seed in front of an over turned flower pot with the hand shovel stuck into the earth.

The suspended water sphere is always interesting to photograph.

The under belly of a made made of flowers and huge, towering flowers...again, from the ant's perspective.

A ladybug made of flowers

Two ants communicating under some toad stools....

You can get an idea of the perspection from the child to the right of the tree and butterfly...

A cascading waterfall from the leaves...

A snail traveling past the ant conversation under the toad stools...

A bee ready to pollinate a flower...

Better angle for the bee...

Some red bromeliads...

These are my photos taken at the Flamingo Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel

How can they stand on those spindly legs?

Beautiful water falls....

Huge Koi fish and do you see the turtle?

Ducks....

Can you find the Bird in this photo?

More peaceful water falls....

It was a wonderful windy, brisk day with sprinkles of rain.  The air smelled of fresh rain and the mountains popped out against the turquoise skies...

Today I am grateful and happy.

Sad news for Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas...

Yesterday I read the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Spa at Lake Las Vegas is shutting down May 2, 2010.  That really shocked me. It really shows how affected the town has become from lack of tourism and conventions. This is a AAA Five Diamond Award winning Hotel people! Loews Hotel, the other premier hotel next to the Ritz-Carlton, will still remain open.

 
Not too many people know about Montelago Village at Lake Las Vegas. It is out Lake Mead Blvd on the way to Lake Mead.  It is 17 miles from the Strip which is about a half hour drive.

Its like a mini trip to Europe...visiting a small Italian Village on a lake.  The  Montelago Hotel hosts the friendliest and most hospitable Casinos you will find. One of our friends was the only player at a poker table.  She was on a winning streak, and when someone else approached to play, the dealer politely asked them to wait while she finished her streak!  Our friend could not believe her ears.

                                                                                    

You can rent power boats to go out on the lake,  take a romantic gondola ride..or play golf on a 36-hole course.

There are many weddings held here, and beautiful pictures taken from the inside of the bridge, over looking the lake...



Often, I enjoy going there on a Sunday or special occasions.  Its a favorite destination when family or friends come to visit. Its one of my favorite places to celebrate my birthday. It is like being transported to Italy.  It has such an old world Tuscan charm...

If you are not a gambler, and like to shop, you would find the one of a kind shops a perfect way to spend an afternoon. Stop in the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a bag of your favorite chocolates as you stroll down the cobblestone streets of Montelago Village.  There have several interesting jewelry, clothing, and  art galleries to explore...


 
Andrea Bocelli has had several outdoor concerts held out of doors, by the lake.

The Village hosts wine tastings, craft and art fairs.  They have movie nights, where everyone brings blankets & beach chairs, gathering to watch the movie projected up on a huge screen...

I sound like a tour guide, for Pete's sake, but I really do love the area out there and find it such sad news about the Ritz. If you are traveling to Vegas and want a unique experience apart from the craziness of the Strip....do yourself a favor and try it before it closes.  I think I will suggest to my husband that we find a special reason to stay there, one last time...

The Fall Exhibit at the Bellagio Conservatory...

Today, my sister and I met our friend at the Bellagio Conservatory to take photos of the new fall exhibit. Here is a little preview...

It is absolutely incredible what the horticulturists do with flowers, plants and trees! It is just remarkable. This tree at the end and with the leaves coming from it's head,

is animated and talks. Very clever.

It was another fun day with my sister. Yesterday, Mom called us while we were in a casino. She was visiting Dad and wanted to let us talk with him. Unfortunately, it was so loud in the casino, Dad could not hear us and we could not hear him. We both told Dad we loved him and that I would be coming to visit him soon. He told us to have fun

and enjoy one another while my sister visits.

Tomorrow we plan on painting and doing some collages... and who knows

what else we will find to get into...

Photos, Digital Scrap Booking and highlights of Las Vegas...

I belong to a group of friends who enjoy Digital Scrap booking. It's like regular scrap booking, except it is all done digitally. All the supplies are kept filed in the computer, and the work is done in Photoshop Elements. That is where the challenge lies for me, learning Photoshop. I have 4.0 and 6.0 and I am the least experienced of our group.

One important aspect of digital scrap booking, is the taking of photographs. That is the fun part for me. I LOVE taking photos. Usually, the first day we are together, we go somewhere and take pictures and then the remainder of the weekend, we create digital pages with those photos.

We started the group July, 2008 and have had four different weekends, all here in Nevada, with the last one in California. Our first weekend (summer) and the second to the last in March (spring), we went to the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Every Holiday, Chinese New Year, spring, summer and fall, over 140 expert horticulturists arrange gazebos, bridges, ponds, water features with fresh flowers and plants displayed with creativity and theatrical impact. Absolutely wonderful in sight and smell. and if you are in town, do not miss it!

Also, at the Bellagio are the Fountains of Bellagio. Check them out on line. Totally spectacular the way the music corresponds with the movements of the water, dancing on the water to the rhythm of the music.

I really liked this photo I took of the sky light ceiling of the Conservatory...

It reminds me of some old historic building, with so much charm. One would never imagine it could be found on the Las Vegas Strip.The fragrant aroma of all the flowers is powerful and seductive to the senses. It is a wonderful place to enjoy time with friends, alone, or with someone special. Don't forget the largest ( 27 feet tall) chocolate fountain in the world at Jean-Philippe Pastisserie, not far from the Conservatory.

Daffodils and California Poppies, for me, are the happiest of flowers and make me smile every time I gaze upon them.

The creativity of the horticulturists is almost unbelievable in the way they surpass the various exhibits...

This shows the reflections within an orb water feature in the middle of the floor, showing off the multicolored flowers and the sky light of the Conservatory.It's an amazing place to be with a camera...

I would like to persuade a couple of my girlfriends, and my sister, who are so talented, to do a blog, showcasing their work. Not only are they gifted photographers, but their pages capture the most precious and memorable moments.

They do the 12 x 12 size pages, where I think I prefer to do a book with 8 x 11 sized pages.

On this beautiful summer's day in July, we were blessed with the most incredible rainbow over the Bellagio fountains. These next two photos, show before the water fountains began and then after the music started, and the rainbow appeared...

Guess that is all for now... My stomach is telling me it is time to eat...