Began in Bangkok

The first two days we were in Bangkok.

I was over-whelmed by the noise, so many people, pollution, and prostitution.

It was a difficult place for me to be and gave me a new appreciation for my home

and where I lived.

On the first full day, we took a canal boat tour.

Even on the river people were trying to sell you things.

Several times our transportation would take us to jewelry stores instead of where we wanted to go.

They were trying to get us to shop as they got a cut of the sale.

It became very frustrating and we finally refused to get out of the taxi until they took us where we wanted to go.

Everywhere you looked there were Buddhas.

This is the reclining Buddha.

There were Reclining Buddhas, Emerald Buddhas, Smiling Buddhas,

Serious Buddhas, Fat Buddhas, and Skinny Buddhas.

We ended our first day by visiting the Jim Thompson home.

Here we had a lovely Thai meal and the home and grounds were like an oasis in the city.

Jim Thompson was an American that fell in love with Thailand early in the 1900's.

He developed their silk industry and even today is one of the best silks.

The second full day we spent visiting the Royal Palace.

The king of Thailand is very much beloved and his image was everywhere.

Part of the Royal Palace.

It was very opulent.

The grounds covered a large area.

The weather the full two weeks in Thailand were from 90 to 100 degrees with very high humidity.
This also created a challenge for me.

On this particular day at the end of the tour I was sitting and resting before we headed back to our hotel.
Two college students approached me and as a way of practicing their English they gave me a survey.
They were quite cute and it was fun to talk to them.

This ended our time in Bangkok and we were happy to move on.
Double click on any of the picture to see them larger.

Hang'n in There

Easter Sunday in Thailand.

24 zip lines with 7 guys.

Now isn't that the craziest thing this girl could do?

Still not well, but seeing signs of wellness coming.

I will probably start blogging regularly the first of June.

Sending you hugs.

I'm Home

I arrived home on Friday morning with a very bad virus and touch of pneumonia.

Just to let you know I can't wait to share my two very different adventures with you,

but it will be in a few days after some much needed recuperation.

Missed  you all and looking forward to hearing from you again and reading your blogs,

Just plain catching up.

Memories and Love

Sending a heart full of love!

"God gave us memories so we could have

roses in winter and mothers forever."

~M.F.K. Fisher

I am off making memories,

traveling to Thailand and Taiwan.

I will be gone until sometime the middle of May.

Then there will be much to share.

Have a special Easter.

Happy Mother's Day! 

Sending each one of you hugs for today and always!

Comments will be turned off late Saturday.

If you have any questions about ordering books
or Marmalady's products, my son, Tim will be managing
my business while I am away.  He will check my emails,
but you can also email him at mountpanic @ gmail.com

I will occasionally check emails, but I may not be as dependable.

Home is where the Heart is

Home is where the Heart is.

This is a different form of a home.

Someone lived here once, but

now it only holds memories and ghosts.

This is my home for April at the Dollhouse Project.

Each month I am portraying a different art form and a home.

The top picture is the original photograph and

the lower picture is an altered photograph on Photoshop Element.

I am just beginning to learn this new art form, but

I see all kinds of fun possibilities.

Soon I will be leaving my home for adventure,

but at the end of the adventure I will look forward to home.

Camillias

This time of year I feel like the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland.
Painting a touch of pink here and a little red there.
There are about 30 camellias bushes lining our yard with shades of pinks, whites, and reds.
Each bush is just a little different than the one next to it, but they run
together in a long hedge along each side of my front yard.
I would love to pull out my paint brushes and join in the fun.
The artist that created these beautiful flowers definitely went for variety.
So I sit here and just enjoy the hand that created these beautiful camellias,
for at this time of year they glow in abundance.

Dancing in the Sunlight

Silly, maybe

Something I had to do, YES!

Friday was the first warm sunshiny day

where I could dance barefoot in the sun

and CELEBRATE.

I am a sun girl, so surviving winter is always

difficult for me.  So I celebrated by

dancing barefoot in my tutu in the sunshine.

I have a friend that said she would do it if I did;

so here's the challenge.

Will you be dancing barefoot in the sunshine

in your tutu?